Article January 29, 1916 Issue

Lessons from Rosebuds

ELEANOR M. BLAIR

Why were such tight little rosebuds sent for decoration, I wondered, as I looked at the slender points of red which dotted a bunch of white flowers at the Sunday morning service. It seemed to me that a mistake had been made, until a reference in the Lesson-Sermon was made clear to me through the little buds. This reference was from page 506 of Science and Health, and reads as follows: "Spirit, God, gathers unformed thoughts into their proper channels, and unfolds these thoughts, even as He opens the petals of a holy purpose in order that the purpose may appear."

As I looked at the closely folded buds, I did not doubt their sure unfoldment, and I knew that the purpose of that unfoldment would appear. Why, then, should I doubt the unfoldment of perfection in my life? Surely if I am ever aspiring, Truth will gather my unformed thoughts into their proper channels and unfold them harmoniously in order that the holy purpose of God in creating man in His own likeness may appear. Thus the rosebuds taught me assurance. Then I thought how gradual their unfoldment would be; how each little bud would open, one petal at a time, and how each petal would add new beauty to the whole, and I cried out: " 'Why art thou cast down, O my soul?' What if thy progress does seem slow! 'Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for him.' Rejoice in the new beauty of each tiny realization of Truth. It is beautiful in itself, and it helps to form the perfect concept in consciousness." So the rosebuds taught me patience.

I considered also how futile would be the efforts of mortal fingers to render assistance to the opening blossoms. However kindly their motive, they could work only ruin. So Christian Science had taught me that material remedies for sin, sickness, and discord of every name only hinder the manifestation of that real and permanent harmony which Spirit unfolds. On page 95 of Science and Health Mrs. Eddy says, "Material sense does not unfold the facts of existence; but spiritual sense lifts human consciousness into eternal Truth." I knew that mortal eyes would see no movement of the petals as they opened, yet the result would prove that they had opened. So, I thought, though my daily progress in Christian Science is not evident to the material senses, yet the result, in frequent demonstrations, proves that Truth has unfolded in my consciousness. Thus the rosebuds taught me reliance upon Spirit.

Send a comment to the editors

We'd love to hear from you!

Easily submit your testimonies, articles, and poems online.

Submit

Lessons from Rosebuds

We'd love to hear from you!

Sign up for unlimited access