a rose is not just a rose...

If you look closely, the beauty of a rose bush comes with the danger of getting stuck by its thorns.  I've grown New Dawn roses for many years because they are absolutely the most stunning display of blooms every Spring.  At my house, they trail up this iron gate hiding my secret garden.  I also have them spilling over an arbor in my vegetable garden as well as on striking display at my front door as they cling to our 20ft fireplace.  Almost nothing compares to the New Dawn rose.

HOWEVER........

As with almost anything worth doing or having, they aren't a walk in the park to maintain.  I don my long sleeves and thick rubber gloves every year to tidy up their limbs.  Every single year, I pay a heavy price for it.  There must be some kind of poison in their thorns because my hands ache for days everywhere the thorns penetrated by skin.  I say I will never grow them again....but alas, I know I will.  They are worth it.

In fact, they remind me of a verse.  

Luke 14:26 “If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple.27 And whoever does not bear his cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple.28 For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not sit down first and count the cost, whether he has enough to finish it