A new minister
was walking with an older,
more seasoned minister
in the garden one day.
Feeling a bit insecure
about what God had for him to do,
he was asking the older preacher
for some advice.
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 ministry.
But because of his great 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
this was to do.
Noticing the younger preacher's inability
to unfold the rosebud without tearing it,
the older preacher began to recite
the following poem...
"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 easily,
But 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 God for leading
Each moment of my day.
I will look to God for guidance
In each step of the way."
"The path that lies before me,
Only my Lord knows.
I'll trust God to unfold the moments,
Just as He unfolds the rose."
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