Lilies and Roses

A sweet friend of mine and her husband took me out for a birthday dinner. We've been trying to get together now for months and it's been long over due. It would seem that everytime we'd try to get together this last year, so many obstacles jumped in the way. But what I loved so much about about this gathering was the unintentional meaning behind these sweet flowers I was given.

These may look like a simple beautiful bouquet but they are so much more. These flowers represent the friendship I have with my friend. She didn't just go out and buy plain ole regular flowers. I noticed they are mature flowers... meaning they aren't small little ones. I noticed how big and luscious they all are while arranging them in the rose vase my mother left me. The roses are big, strong and are very thorny. The kind of thornes that prick you every single time you try to pick them up. The eucalyptus are some of the biggest leaves I've ever received. And they all smell so wonderful.

These flowers are a representation of how our relationship has changed, grown and matured into something even more beautiful than it was before! While the arrangement is so beautiful to look at, when trying to move them around I found it extremely difficult because of the thornes. Our friendship has certainly gone through some very trying times and we have been pricked a few times trying to make it stronger. The strength in those roses represent us not giving up on our friendship. It's represents the perseverance it takes to keep fighting no matter how much we keep pricking our fingers. I look at how mature these flowers are and think of the process it took to get them that way. That process is just like the friendship that I've cherished for 8 years with my sweet friend. These flowers stand tall and mature, giving off a beauty that is pleasing to the environment. That is the kind of friendship you want to have in your life. Friendships like these are rare! I'm so grateful!