St Peters RC Church Hamilton

The Christmas rose is, I suppose A favourite in winter for many, Any who like white in its purity. For me this flower without other colour Is special, it sits in my memory Tinged poignantly both rather sadly, But also being so beautiful, happily The Christmas rose grows splendidly, Just like all of the hellebore family, But has something extra, a speciality. For me it is connected not only With Christmas, a time rightly celebratory Across the entire world proclaiming Christ’s nativity, This flower invokes my memory of liberty. The days so often full of fun, even crazy, When being a student busy studying. Apart from the learning and achieving, There was none of that work load of responsibility, Which would follow later, continuously. There were good friends and a supportive family, With a beloved fiancé planning a wedding with me. Yes, these years, two or three, were carefree. Travelling home for Christmas was exciting, Anticipating not only who would see, Plus the home comforts to enjoy temporarily, But the real reason for the season As I was new to faith and faith to me. I did not know much about the Trinity, Except that I was loved, oh so generously, And forgiven whenever I went astray, pardoned mercifully. The great day of the 25th December so celebratory, Came and went, far, far too quickly. Soon, too soon it would be time to leave home, To study once more, whilst learning, very gradually How it would be to live independently. Whilst making ends meet, working regularly. This time of return, felt sad really. But suddenly, out of the blue, I was struck by an idea, What if I took a memento of home and this Christmas holiday. – It would be better to call it ‘Holy day,’ Living focused on Christ Jesus not one day only, but many - What if went with me a happy memory? Just as prayer would link me to my heavenly Father, To His beloved Son Christ Jesus, born at Christmas, And the Spirit who encourages us to become holy, Exactly in the same way of a link which is happy I would benefit if I found the best opportunity To draw my thoughts homewards, In a similar way as praying takes me heavenwards. What would I choose, my bare room would need cheer It had been cold and for a month left empty. I knew the answer immediately. I had seen outside my bedroom window, A remarkable flower, tiny, white with purity and dainty. I picked a Christmas rose, or two or three To gently tie up in a posy I could carry This flower of such fragility, consistency and beauty, In the outside wintery world, bleak and shivery, Accomplished the same for me as drawing close To my Saviour and Brother, the Lord Jesus, The Saviour Christ, the meaning of Christmas. Both the flower and being with my Saviour, For He promises to be with us always, Made me feel the sadness drain away, I would live for today and feel happy. How long was it until the holiday at Easter? Certainly two or three months away, But it did not matter as long as for each day I would seek to find something beautiful in nature. The Christmas Rose did not disappoint me, not at all. Just as I hear our Father’s call to us in Christ Jesus, I sense His presence when the Spirit, ever holy Opens the eyes of my mind and heart To understand beauty more fully, pondering frequently, Thinking about the never ending wonder of nature, And the generosity of our Father, life’s Creator. He created this tiny fabulous flower with care. God created and re-created us out of nothing but love similarly. For me the Christmas Rose will ever be continuity Between home and holiday, studying alone and surrounded by warm company, Thinking the wintery world was drab and uninviting, Until I saw a plant of outstanding beauty To pick, pack and cherish tenderly. The Lord Jesus has hand picked us to be His family, He packs our life carefully in wisdom and this revealed by the Holy Spirit. Our Saviour Brother cherishes us so fully, He died to save us from sin separating us from God’s mercy. We are redeemed and restored by God’s grace and favour, And the Christmas Rose I will always fondly remember. Dearest Father, for all fond, happy memories I praise and thank You. I find the Christmas Rose invokes a very warm feeling of happiness and perhaps was the start of my interest in the beauty of gardens. Thank You again. Amen. 08.12.20 Sue O’Donnell