The Tiny Rosebud God Picked To Bloom In Heaven

THE TINY ROSEBUD GOD PICKED
TO BLOOM IN HEAVEN

by HELEN STEINER RICE



THE MASTER GARDENER FROM HEAVEN ABOVE
PLANTED A SEED IN THE GARDEN OF LOVE,
AND FROM IT THERE GREW A ROSEBUD SMALL
THAT NEVER HAD TIME TO OPEN AT ALL.
FOR GOD IN HIS PERFECT AND ALL-WISE WAY
CHOSE THIS ROSE FOR HIS HEAVENLY BOUQUET,
AND GREAT WAS THE JOY OF THIS TINY ROSE
TO BE THE ONE OUR FATHER CHOSE
TO LEAVE EARTH'S GARDEN
FOR ONE ON HIGH WHERE ROSES BLOOM
ALWAYS AND NEVER DIE.
SO, WHILE YOU CAN'T SEE YOUR PRECIOUS ROSE BLOOM,
YOU KNOW THE GREAT GARDENER
FROM THE UPPER ROOM
IS WATCHING AND TENDING
THIS WEE ROSE WITH CARE,
TENDERLY TOUCHING EACH PETAL SO FAIR.
SO THINK OF YOUR DARLING
WITH THE ANGELS ABOVE,
SECURE AND CONTENTED
AND SURROUNDED BY LOVE,
AND REMEMBER GOD BLESSED
AND ENRICHED YOUR LIVES, TOO,
FOR IN DYING YOUR DARLING
BROUGHT HEAVEN CLOSER TO YOU!









OUR SOUL WAITS FOR THE LORD;
HE IS OUR HELP AND OUR SHIELD.



PSALM 33:20
NAS



COME QUICKLY! HELP ME,
O MY SAVIOR.



PSALM 38:22
TLB



GOD IS OUR REFUGE AND STRENGTH,
A VERY PRESENT HELP IN TROUBLE.



PSALM 46:1
NRSV



HELP ME, O LORD MY GOD;
SAVE ME IN ACCORDANCE WITH YOUR LOVE.



PSALM 109:26
NIV



SEARCH FOR THE LORD AND FOR HIS STRENGTH,
AND KEEP ON SEARCHING.



PSALM 105:4
NLT



NOW I KNOW THAT THE LORD
SAVES HIS ANOINTED;
HE WILL ANSWER HIM FROM
HIS HOLY HEAVEN,
WITH THE SAVING STRENGTH OF HIS
RIGHT HAND. SOME BOAST IN CHARIOTS,
AND SOME IN HORSES; BUT WE WILL BOAST
IN THE NAME OF THE LORD, OUR GOD.



PSALM 20:6-7
NAS



THE LORD IS MY LIGHT AND MY SALVATION;
WHOM SHALL I FEAR?
THE LORD IS THE STRENGTH OF MY LIFE;
OF WHOM SHALL I BE AFRAID?



PSALM 27:1
NKJV



O LORD, DON'T STAY AWAY. O GOD MY STRENGTH,
HURRY TO MY AID. RESCUE ME FROM DEATH;
SPARE MY PRECIOUS LIFE FROM ALL THESE EVIL MEN.



PSALM 22:19-20
TLB



SUMMON YOUR MIGHT, O GOD;
SHOW YOUR STRENGTH, O GOD, AS
YOU HAVE DONE FOR US BEFORE.



PSALM 68:28
NRSV