My sister Deena is a new teacher at a little Christian school. Last year was a trying year as she took on varied high school level subjects. This year is better. She calls my mom to have long talks with her about things going on in her life.

Mom always listens intently and helps out in any way when she can. But at this time in Deena’s life the best support mom can give her struggling daughter is to pray to God and have a listening ear.
Just recently mom read a poem in her church bulletin which describes Deena’s life. It is preceeded by a story of a young preacher and old preacher having a conversation. The poem rings true for any Christian struggling to do right and grow.
The poem goes along with Proverbs 3:5-6 which says:
Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.
UNFOLDING THE ROSE
A young, new preacher was walking with an older, more seasoned preacher in the garden one day and feeling a bit insecure about what God had for him to do, he was inquiring of the older preacher. 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 for his ministry.
Because of his high 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 it was to do so. Noticing the younger preacher’s inability to unfold the rosebud while keeping it intact, the older preacher began to recite the following poem:
UNFOLDING THE ROSE
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 this flower 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 for leading
Each moment of my day.
I will look to him for His 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.
–Author Unknown