The Yellow Rose of Texas Still Blooms

Day 123 of Photo Inspirations — The Yellow Rose of Texas Still Blooms
To my joy, yesterday morning, after having been away for 20 days, I stepped out on my patio and there were my fragrant and beautiful yellow roses in bloom.  To some that would be “no big deal”, but as in every year since we were married, the yellow roses represented our favorite color — yellow (my Honey always called me his “Yellow Rose of Texas”) and yellow were the colors in our wedding.   Every home we lived in thereafter, we always planted a yellow rose bush.  This photo is the bush I planted at my new home.  I’m carrying on the tradition we began almost 50 years ago.  And, of course, when I see it, I’m reminded of my first love.  I even go so far as to conjure up the idea that, perhaps, it was he that made sure I had yellow roses in bloom when I returned home.

While I was away, two special men graduated to heaven — Uncle Hugo Litke, who was a mentor and favorite uncle of my husband.  He lived a full and long life. And, also graduating to heaven was a dear friend, Ray Elston.  Both of these precious men went to heaven in advance of their wives — each of whom knew the love that my Honey and I shared.  They also had a “forever love”.  The good news is we’ll all be back together again for a joyous celebration of being “home” together forever.

When I think about those three men, I like to think they are laughing and celebrating being home.  Heaven is a wonderful place…..and, best of all, as Rick Warren says, “We were made for it.”

Unfortunately, so many people see in death nothing but a cruel separation from loved ones.  But, it is so much more than that.  We are born for heaven and we end this life of tears to begin our life of endless happiness.  Death has not destroyed our loved ones, nor carried them away.  Rather it is has given them life — a life with power to know fully and to love perfectly.

The tears that dampen our eyes in times of mourning, are tears of homesickness, tears of longing for our loved ones.  But it is we who are away from home, not they!  Death has been for them a doorway to an eternal home.  They are still with us, lovingly and tenderly waiting for the day when we, too, will enter the doorway of our eternal home.  For us who believe, death is a preparation for eternal union with those we love, in the peace and joy of heaven.   We were made for heaven. We were made to last forever.

But, in the meantime, while we are still on this side of heaven…..we continue to finish our assignments well and also, along the way — to stop and smell the roses!  I assure you, that’s the way this “Yellow Rose of Texas” lives each day enroute to my heavenly home….and by the way, there….our yellow roses will never fade.