only one

Last Saturday I bought myself a dozen roses, partly to celebrate spring and brighten my home, but mostly to cheer myself up after something disturbing happened, something that caused a serious setback in my process of healing from a recent heartbreak. When I asked the florist how I could make them last as long as possible, she told me to put the roses in hot water (a new idea for me) every time you cut the ends, and gave me extra preservative packets.

I followed her instructions and the bouquet lasted a whole week, but by this morning most of the flowers had lost their freshness. Only one remained soft-petaled, firm-stemmed, head held high. And it made me realize that sometimes, one is enough.

One perfect rose, symbol of beauty, love, hope.

One call from a friend at just the right moment, when you need it most because you've done everything you can on your own and you're about to give up (or have already given up) hope.

One hymn on a beautiful Easter day, coming on the radio right at noon and forcing you to stand up and sing.

One image, or line, or even just one word that completes a poem like the last piece in a puzzle.

One man who stands by you and gives you the love you know he is capable of, the love you deserve, instead of protesting he can't give you what you need. Who doesn't bail when waters get rough, who stays and helps you untangle the riggings and repair the cracks, instead of swimming away to shore, leaving you in a very leaky boat wondering why you ever thought it was safe to get in, and why you stayed, rowing and paddling, as long as you did.

One sure step on the path out of the darkness into the light after stumbling off, circling back for a bit before moving forward again.

One God, gracious and infinite. One Savior, taking on the woes and horrors and faults of the world and renewing life over and over again.

That's what I'm celebrating today, all by myself, and it is a beautiful day indeed. "This is the day the Lord has made. Let us rejoice and be glad in it." Amen.