Three Roses

“Good morning, Delilah!” greeted a man in a crisp white and blue uniform as I approached the log-in area. I had been with the company for two months, and by now the security guards had grown used to my presence. Every morning, without fail, they welcomed me with a smile as I asked for the exact time of my arrival — often a couple of minutes late, as usual. I sighed, expecting another ordinary day in the office.

The morning unfolded as I predicted — work, conversations, routine tasks. But this day carried something different, a quiet undercurrent that set it apart from the rest. A few days earlier, I had once again left home. This time, however, I was not alone. My younger sister and cousin had helped set the plan in motion, packing our bags and moving to our new place while I was at work. It was not far from our old home, but far enough to give us the distance we needed. We left because of my mother — the reasons too personal to share here.

Life has a way of repeating its lessons, presenting the same challenges until we learn what we need to from them. The past few days had been heavy, but I chose not to let today join their number. Instead, I found reasons to be grateful. One of them was him. I had been hoping he would pick me up from work, and he did. We went straight home, as we often did, but this evening held a small, meaningful surprise.

When we arrived, he handed me three roses, each a different color. I cherished them — not just for their beauty, but for the thoughtfulness behind them. Flowers, I believe, are nature’s gentle way of absorbing our stress. They do not last forever, yet before they fade, they seem to carry away a piece of our burdens. They wither, but in doing so, they give us moments of beauty and comfort. These roses would not last, but the kindness behind them would.

I could not find the perfect words to express how much I appreciated him — the giver of these flowers. All I could say was that I loved him, and that his presence in my life was proof that my Heavenly Father had never abandoned me. I know He never will.

There is so much in my life to be thankful for: a decent job, true friends, my sister and cousin, my father and brothers, the man I love, and most of all, my Heavenly Father and Savior. My life is far from perfect, but it can still be as beautiful as those roses — as long as I have my loved ones to share my joys with, and as long as we continue to learn the lessons hidden in our repeated experiences.