St Peters RC Church Hamilton

The roses are budding, preparing for a second blooming,

Oh how generous is the love of God towards us.

Summer starting on a glorious note of roses opening.

The season is now ending, striking a similar tune.

Again, the rose garden will be awash with colour.

Our hope and expectation becomes reality

As long as we adopt the pace of nature,

Which more often than not is growth made,

Not quickly, but steadily and readily.

This is of course, dependent upon conditions,

The requisite amount of sunlight and showers

Will offer hours of late September roses.

As previously, there is an invitation to share in happiness.

Find a seat, be still, and drink in your fill

Of the rewards of earlier labour back in summer gardens.

Remember the old adage, for it still holds true for me and you:

‘One who plants a garden, plants happiness.’

Enjoy to the full the ramble, scramble of roses,

Climbing in clusters, reaching up high as if to touch the sky,

Their colours a vibrant variety a-plenty.

Such a summer and early autumn splendour,

Offer all heartfelt thanks to the Sender.

Our Maker is in charge of all of life,

Everywhere, at any time, anywhere,

Wanting to delight, even excite us.

Therefore encouraging the roses to bud into a second blooming,

Simply because His love is most generous.

And what a golden opportunity to sit and pray,

When overwhelmed by beauty as with the roses’ identity,

A garden remaining bathed in rich colour

Is of itself an anthem to the Creator.

Let us offer prayerful voice in response to this choice.

And enjoy this glorious opportunity to express our wonder.

Wonder at the measure of God’s love,

That which we will ever highly treasure.

Lord, each and every rose is so beautiful, just one rose is sufficient to stop us in our tracks. Yet You grow an abundance, in fact a super-abundance as they flower again, reminding us of earliest summer. In this

particular gift, and the treasure of memory, we see how generous Your love is towards us. Thank You so very, very much. Amen.