Bed of Roses

Article for Bethlehem Matrimonial - Dec 2016

There is a small flower store back in my hometown which carries the name board ‘Raja Flower Stores’. This perhaps is one of the first shops to open early in the morning in the town of Changanacherry to receive the trucks that bring fresh flowers from far away parts of the country. I’d been to this shop a few times early in the morning to get flowers for some of the events. Each time I reach there I see Raja, the owner of the shop sprinkling water on the flowers. When asked why, he said it keeps the flowers fresh and helps stimulate the fragrance!

Fast forward a few years and recently I came across one of the most clichéd statements we all must have heard in life, “Life is not a bed of roses”. This statement especially gets re-iterated all the time to youngsters who are about to get married or who recently got married. It primarily highlights the fact that life has its own hardships and difficulties and don’t have a presumption that everything will be as soft as a bed of rose petals.

Having said this, I still prefer to believe that life is indeed a bed of roses. Just that, similar to the rose flowers I saw at Raja Flower Stores, our bed of roses do have a bunch of stems as well from the rose plant. Needless to say these come with its own set of thorns. Every time we twist and turn on the bed, these thorns will promptly prick us making us experience the pain all the while being among one of the most fragrant flowers in the world.

If you have noticed, the thorns on the stem of a rose plant is quite strong and is capable of making you bleed. The challenges in our life can be equally strong and sometimes can even make us mentally bleed. The drops of blood get sprinkled on to the bed of roses just like how Raja sprinkled water on the flowers in his shop. Remember, these drops have a purpose to fulfil. They bring fresh perspectives to your life and stimulate the fragrance that lies deep down within you.

Every new challenge brings with it, a set of experience which you’ll never be able to otherwise have, unless you actually experienced it in person. Hence take up every challenge as just another stem with thorns added to your bed of roses. Let a few drops of blood be shed which will make your life fresher and helps you realize the different fragrances of life.

Never think that it’ll always be thorns when you are facing a difficult time. Keep reminding yourself that beneath the thorns lie the bed of roses and it is only a matter of time before the thorns give away to the rose petals. It is equally important to realize while you enjoy the fragrance of life, there is a possibility that one of the stem with thorns lying down there might come up and prick you again. This exactly is the cycle of life!

For every couple, it is quite important to keep up the spirit and tell each other during both good times and bad times about the other side of the fence. It is equally important to support each other during all the times rather than getting into an argument mode which is quite easy. Remind each other that you both share this bed of roses and one person alone cannot make this the best bed without the support from the other.

May you be able to create a bed of roses in your life all the while being aware of the stems with thorns lying beneath! May the good God bless you experience the happiness of being together during this Christmas season and keep the flame of love burning forever!

Wish you all a Merry Christmas in advance!