Four Years Ago Today...

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 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!

~Helen Steiner Rice~

This poem sits by my bed. I read it often. I think about the once close, but always dear, friend that gave it to me and pray for her.

And I think about my Emma, our own tiny rose.

I miss you. I love you. My arms still ache for you. But I know where you are and I know who you're with. And I know that one day you will be ours forever.

All my love, forever and ever.