A single rose growing wild along the roadside
Is crimson with jealousy, hate for the thorns on her side
Everyday when passer-byers stop to gaze at her beauty
The thorns jump out and bite their grabbing fingers
Until they go away
The rose got so angry one day when a handsome young man
Tried to pick her for his date
"Thorns, be gone from me
You cause me nothing but torment and heartache
You're ugly and only get in the way
I want to be loved by someone
And taken home with them
I wish all of you from me would break!"
The thorns never shuddered from her words
They only grew stronger, deadlier
As in unison they said
"Dear rose, if we break away
Grow weak and frail
Leave you for the take
Picked and put into a vase
You'll die within a few days
Never again to be admired
As the single growing rose in this place
We protect you from death
We provide you with grace"
Finally the rose understood their purpose
As tiny soldiers in every human encounter
Her life they repeatedly save
Now for what she once thought to be an imperfection
She thanks God for everyday

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