It was just your average mid-winter day here on the Pacific coast of Washington. Gray, overcast, and a cool mist hanging in the air with just a slight taste of the ocean when breathed in. It can be depressing, when the sun is a distant memory and the dampness starts to creep into your bones. Spring is far away, and it's hard to rationalize that all this moisture is what will make it so beautiful later in the year. I was standing on the front porch, glumly kicking the first slug of the season off of the step, when I was surprised by what I saw in the flowerbed.

I had transplanted a few of the plants left by the previous owner, and among the poor little neglected roses that I had moved, a single pink bloom shone out like a bluebird in a flock of seagulls. This flower was barely more than a stem, leaves spotted and brown around the edges, and seemed hardly capable of supporting life, much less a bloom. Yet, there it stood, proud and lovely, sending up an offering of color and joy to whomever might chance to see it.

I had to smile at the beauty and the bravery of the small rose. This won't be the last bud to adorn it and I know that it won't be the prettiest, but this little plant overcame cold, damp conditions in new surroundings to grow the best bloom that it could. At a time when most plants are dormant and resting, this one decided to go ahead and do what it does best, even though it wasn't a perfect effort.

I guess the lesson to be learned from the rose is that when the conditions aren't the most conducive to our efforts, when it's harder to perform, and we're not in peak condition, it's still alright to do what we can do, even if the results aren't perfect. Even an imperfect rose is a beautiful joyful sight, when it's the only rose around. Spread joy where and when you can, and share the light of the love of the Lord. No one is perfect except for Him, so our efforts will fall short time and again, but shine where you can and be a rose in God's garden.

    Cindy is a mom of three boys and the wife of a corrections officer living on the coast of Washington. The role of stay-at-home mom is new to her, but she feels fortunate to be able to be here for her family. She says, "At 45 years old, I've already had an 18 year career in 'the world' and I'm ready to make God, my husband, and kids first in my life. The Lord has blessed us in so many ways, and the closer we try to get to Him, the more he shows us. My plan is to seek His path daily and follow where He leads, not to go where I think is best and "bust through the brush" as I am prone to do..."