Day Eleven: The Christmas Rose

 

The Christmas Rose

An Advent Story Calendar

Day Eleven

As soon as the heavenly messengers disappeared into heaven, the shepherds were buzzing with conversation.”Let’s rush down to Bethlehem right now! Let’s see what’s happening! Let’s experience what the Lord has told us about!” So they ran into town, and eventually, they found Mary and Joseph and the baby lying in the feeding trough. Luke 2:15-16

“Those must have been the three kings!” said Dora. “They followed a star bringing gold, frankincense, and myrrh — whatever those are.”

“They brought their most precious gifts. Gold for royalty, frankincense for worship, and myrrh for healing. The shepherds’ treasures, the honey, dates, and lamb, were precious too for they were the very best they had to offer,” Joe explained. 

Awestruck, the shepherds watched the travelers disappear into the distance. Madelon’s eyes widened with wonder. Angels! Travelers dressed like kings! A newborn king in Bethlehem? What gifts could be given to a king? What king would be born in a manger? Wasn’t Herod king? What about the Romans? The angels didn’t mention them.

“We must take gifts to the king also,” said Madelon's oldest brother. Quickly, they gathered up some honey, dates, and a newborn lamb. They hurried off behind the travelers. 

“But what about Madelon?” asked Dora. 

Rose History: Some indigenous tribes of North America viewed wild roses as sacred, protective flowers. The Paiute, Nez Perce, and Salish Peoples believed that roses protected them from evil spirits.  Roses were woven into clothing, blankets, and artwork. Rose hips were used in food and medicine providing nutrients and Vitamin C. They also believed that roses kept people healthy and scattered wild roses around cradles to protect them.

Rose Hues: Light pink roses represent grace, gentleness, joy, and happiness — qualities one might wish for a newborn child.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, give me a heart for your children— young and old. Help me see you in every face and treat everyone with the love you give me. Amen

Day Ten: The Christmas Rose

 

The Christmas Rose

An Advent Story Calendar

Day Ten

Where is this newborn, who is the King of the Jews? When we were far away in the East we saw His star, and we have followed its glisten and gleam all this way to worship Him.  Matthew 2:2

Joe continued his story.

When the angels finished singing, Madelon’s brothers jumped up from the ground shouting with joy. Madelon was about to step out from behind the bush when her brothers fell to the ground again. Dark shapes cast shadows in the moonlight. Strange animals, carrying strange men dressed in fine garments, loomed over the frightened shepherds. To Madelon’s amazement, the strange creatures knelt by the fire and one of the men strode over to her brothers. 

“We have followed a star that announced the birth of a great king,” the man said. His accent was strange but he spoke a language Madelon knew. “We have been to the city and King Herod directed us to Bethlehem. We bring gifts for the newborn king.”

Madelon looked at the strange creatures kneeling by the fire. Heavy baskets hung from their sides. The travelers warmed themselves by the fire. Her astonished brothers told the men of the angels and their message. They pointed the way to Bethlehem. The travelers remounted and the strange creatures lumbered off in the moonlight.

Rose History: Ancient Romans, Greeks, and Phoenicians cultivated roses for trade. During the seventeenth century, members of the royalty used roses and rose water as barter and for payments. Roses spread throughout the Middle East and around the Mediterranean. 

Rose Hues:  Purple roses represent adoration, royalty, and majesty. Purple roses can be given to someone you admire, someone you look up to, someone whose opinion you value. Give purple roses to leaders and mentors. 

Prayer:  King of Kings, accept my most precious gifts as a symbol of the love and adoration I offer with my whole heart. Amen

Day Nine: The Christmas Rose

 

The Christmas Rose

An Advent Story Calendar

Day Nine

Don’t be afraid! Listen! I bring good news, news of great joy, news that will affect all people everywhere. Today, in the city of David, a Liberator has been born for you! He is the promised Anointed One, the Supreme Authority! You will know you have found Him when you see a baby, wrapped in a blanket, lying in a feeding trough.  Luke 2:10-12

“Long ago,” Joe began, “a little shepherd girl needed to give a gift.”

“A shepherd girl? I thought all shepherds were boys. At least they are in our Christmas play. They wear bathrobes and carry sticks.”

“Shepherding was a family business, so everyone played a part. This little shepherd girl’s job was to take her brothers their meals every day. Sheep need watching. No lunch breaks for shepherds!”

“What was her name?” asked Dora.

“Madelon,” said Joe. “At least that is the name I read in a book once.” 

One evening, when the shepherds had stayed late in the field, Madelon took her brothers some supper in a clay pot. Suddenly, the dark sky lit up. Madelon dropped the pot and hid behind a bush. The sound of a thousand wings echoed over her head. Madelon peeped around the bush to see her brothers lying flat on the ground with their hands over their heads. 

“Don’t be afraid,” the angels sang, for that is what they were, “for we bring good news!” A savior has been born in the city of David. Go and find a baby, wrapped in swaddling clothes, and resting in a manger.” 

“Wait a minute,” Dora said. “I’ve heard this story before but I never heard about a shepherd girl.”

“Small girls are often overlooked,” said Joe. “But the angels didn’t overlook, Madelon.”

Rose History: People who encounter angels in prayer or meditation report smelling the fragrance of roses. A rose scent is a physical sign of spiritual presence. The energy field surrounding roses vibrates at a higher rate than any other flower mimicking the vibrational rate of angels’ wings.

Rose Hues: Black roses signify courage, new beginnings, and major changes. Black roses do not occur naturally in nature. Black roses should be given to someone going through a difficult period, such as a loss of job or a divorce, wishing them courage as they face the changes ahead.

Prayer: Lord of the angels, help me meet changes with courage knowing you are near. Amen

Day Eight: The Christmas Rose

 

The Christmas Rose

An Advent Story Calendar

Day Eight

For everything that happens in life—there is a season, a right time for everything under heaven.

Ecclesiastes 3:1

The days shortened as November became December. Joe spent less time in the greenhouse now heated with grow lamps turned to dormancy levels. The glass had been replaced and Dora’s debt had been paid, but Dora and Joe had formed the kind of friendship the old and young enjoy. After Thanksgiving break, when Dora had gone to her grandmother’s and Joe to his son’s, the two friends sat at the kitchen table sharing cups of cocoa. Most of the roses slept in their beds — except one, which was leafing out and stretching toward the sun.

Sipping noisily, Dora said, “That rose seems to be waking up.”

In the far corner of the greenhouse, away from the other roses, leaves unfolded in a large pot. 

“That’s a Christmas Rose,” Joe explained. “I’ve been waiting for two years for that one to bloom. It isn’t like the other roses that bloom in the spring and summer. The Christmas Rose waits for cold and snow. Sometimes it’s called the Winter Rose”

“Why is it called a Christmas Rose? Because it likes a white Christmas?”

“Don’t you know the legend? Well, I suppose you wouldn’t. These roses grow in the mountains of Central Europe in winter.”

Dora handed Joe her cup, “If you’re going to tell me a legend, I’ll need more cocoa.”

Rose History: In a Greek legend, Aphrodite, the goddess of love, names her son Eros after the rose (rearranging the letters). Aphrodite wanted Eros to keep her secrets, so she gave him a rose to seal his lips. In Greek tradition, roses symbolized secrecy and discretion.

Rose Hues: The white rose stands for secrecy and silence. A shared secret is less likely to be kept.

Prayer: God of all seasons, wake me up to your love. Open my lips so that I may share your love. Amen

Day Seven: The Christmas Rose

 

The Christmas Rose

An Advent Story Calendar

Day Seven

Don’t run from tests and hardships, brothers and sisters. As difficult as they are, you will ultimately find joy in them; if you embrace them, your faith will blossom under pressure and teach you true patience as you endure. And true patience brought on by endurance will equip you to complete the long journey and cross the finish line—mature, complete, and wanting nothing. James 1:2-4

One afternoon, Dora didn’t skip into the greenhouse as she usually did. If Joe hadn’t known better, he would have thought she was puttering. She slumped into a chair by the compost bucket.

“Good afternoon, Dora,” said Joe. “Are you ready for some rose feeding today?”

“I suppose,” Dora sighed.

Joe pulled up a chair. “Do you want to tell me something?”

Dora took a long moment. “Our class is doing a project about the Arctic Environment. Each team gets to pick an Arctic animal to research. My teacher asked for a volunteer to roll the library cart to our classroom. I raised my hand but she didn’t pick me. Owen said I was too weak to push the cart.”

Joe paused, “What does Owen know? Didn’t you hit a softball all the way from your yard and through my greenhouse roof? Haven’t you been carrying the heavy bucket of compost all around the greenhouse? Don’t you wheel the roses around to find the best sun?” Dora was on the small side but her spirit was large and her will was strong.

Talking to her shoes, Dora said, “My brothers told me that I was too small to play ball with them. That’s why I was practicing alone in my yard.”

“Being small doesn’t mean that you are weak. Some muscles don’t show, Dora. Some muscles can only be seen by those looking for them, muscles like determination, perseverance, and kindness. Your muscles are strong.”

Dora lifted her head, “What do boys know, anyway. The red stake roses look hungry today.”

Rose History: An old Arabian tale tells of a time when all roses were white. One evening, a nightingale fell in love with some roses in a garden and began to sing to them. Beckoned closer by their perfume, he pierced his breast on a thorn. The nightingale’s blood colored the rose red. 

Rose Hue: Red roses are a symbol of martyrdom. Martyrs shed blood for their faith.

Prayer: Ever-present God, thank you for being with me on my journey to completely trusting you. Amen

Day Six: The Christmas Rose

 

 

An Advent Story Calendar

Day Six

The Eternal peers down from heaven and watches all of humanity

Psalm 33:13

Dora proved an able gardener. Every other day, she joined Joe to feed, gently prune, and turn the pots to give each rose the best sunlight, always asking questions, “Why are the pots in groups? Why are some hanging and some on the ground? Why are some pots on wheels? How do you know how much to feed the roses? What do the names on the stakes mean? Why are there plastic bags on some of the roses?”

“Each rose has a name,” Joe answered. “Some are named after kings or queens. Some are named after places. Some are named after the person who propagated them.”

“Propa-whated?” Dora said. 

“Propagated. It means to breed or create a type of rose. The plastic bags catch the pollen dropped by the rose heads. The propagator, the person creating the new type of rose, gathers pollen from one rose in the plastic bag, and then brushes the pollen on another rose. If it works, a hybridized rose will occur. Hybrid means a mix.”

“It sounds like a lot of work,” said Dora. “Can’t you just buy different colors at the store?”

“Sure,” said Joe. “But doing it yourself is satisfying. Come look here.”

Joe led the way to a sunny corner of the greenhouse. “When I crossbreed this rose with the one next to it, I will have a hybrid. I can name it.”

“What will you name it?” asked Dora.

“Let’s see if I am successful first,” said Joe. “The roses with blue stakes look hungry today.” 

Picking up her bucket, Dora skipped around looking for blue stakes. 

Rose History: The genus Rose includes over 300 species and thousands of varieties. Rose colors range from white, yellow, pink, and orange to lavender and black.

Rose Hues: Blue roses represent mystery and uniqueness. Blue roses do not occur in nature but are a hybrid created by a breeder. The color blue represents spirituality, intuition, and inner peace.

Prayer: Creator of all, thank you for the variety of humanity so that I may see you more clearly. Help me love each and every variety as you do. Amen

Day Five: The Christmas Rose

 

The Christmas Rose

An Advent Story Calendar

Day Five

The Holy Spirit produces a different kind of fruit: unconditional love, joy, peace, patience, kindheartedness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. 

Galatians 5:22-23

“Ew!” Dora said holding the bucket Joe had handed her at arm’s length. “This stinks!”

“Compost,” said Joe. “Unlike bears, roses like a little meal now and then during their dormancy. I keep all my vegetable scraps, mix them with some nutrients, grind them in my blender, and give each rose a little snack once a week or so.”

“Your blender!” Dora said. “Remind me never to eat anything you cook.”

“It’s a special blender I use just for compost. I put the scraps from my veggies in a compost bin out back. After a while, I scoop out the warm and juicy compost, mix in nutrients, and blend them. Your job is to feed the roses. Each plant has a note telling how much to feed it. Too much or too little is bad for roses. Today is a green day. That means I feed all the roses with a green stake.”

Dora picked up the compost bucket. Joe handed her a teaspoon. She walked over to the first group of roses looking for the green stakes.

“Open up, little roses,” she crooned. “Here comes supper!”

Rose History: The Sufi philosopher Hazrat Inayat Khan wrote that a rose blooming from bud to flower is like a soul opening to God: The soul becomes like a rose and begins to show rose quality. Just as the rose consists of many petals held together, so the person who attains to the unfoldment of the soul begins to show many different qualities. These qualities emit fragrance in the form of a spiritual personality. Roses represent the opening of our souls to the beauty of God and his creation.

Rose Hues: Yellow roses represent friendship and caring. Sending yellow roses shows that you are opening your heart to a friend.

Prayer: Sweet Savior, open my soul to the beauty of your love so that I may breathe out the sweet fragrance of your love. Amen