When my great-grandma passed away a few months before my husband and I were married, I took some cuttings from a few of her plants so I could start my own to remember her by.

The most special one of all was her heirloom tea rosebush.

By the time I said “I do,” the tiny bushes were ready to plant. Over the span of thirty-seven years, those bushes have been moved four times and numerous cuttings from them have been shared with others. On our last move however, the bushes had to remain in buckets for several months… something they don’t tolerate very well.

When I was finally able to get them in the ground, I was nearly certain they wouldn’t make it. I know it sounds silly, but I prayed for those roses to survive. Though they seemed to be just sitting there doing nothing, when I returned home after being gone for a couple weeks, I ran out to check them and they were growing!

Those rosebushes remind me of many things: my sweet great-grandma, my family, and the fact that even when things seem dead or hopeless, God knows better. With Him, there is always hope and always joy if we will let Him cultivate it in us and trust in His timing.