Page 7 - Good News March 2008 paper

young preacher was walk-
ing with an older, more
A"seasoned" preacher in
the garden one day. Feeling a bit
insecure about what God had in
mind for him to do, he was asking
the older preacher for some
advice.
The older preacher walked up to
a rosebush and handed the
young preacher a rosebud and
told him to open it without
tearing off any petals. The young
preacher looked in disbelief at
the older preacher and was
trying to figure out what a rosebud could possibly have to do
with his wanting to know the will of God for his life and ministry.
Because of his great respect for the older preacher, he
proceeded to try to unfold the rose, while keeping every petal
intact… It wasn't long before he realized how impossible this
was.
Noticing the younger preacher's inability to unfold the rosebud
without tearing it, the older preacher began to recite the
following poem…
It is only a tiny rosebud,
A flower of God's design;
But I cannot unfold the petals
With these clumsy hands of mine.
The secret of unfolding flowers
Is not known to such as I.
GOD opens flowers so sweetly,
When in my hands they die.
If I cannot unfold a rosebud,
This flower of God's design,
Then how can I have the wisdom
To unfold this life of mine?
So I'll trust in Him to lead me
Each moment of my day.
I will look to Him for guidance
Each step of the pilgrim way.
The pathway that lies before me,
Only my Heavenly Father knows.
I'll trust Him to unfold the moments,
Just as He unfolds the rose...