Finding the Rose Among the Thorns

In this unstable world, it sometimes feels as if my heart is on a rollercoaster whenever I turn on the TV or scroll through the news. Fear, anger, and uncertainty seem to dominate the headlines. Yet a few days ago, I came across a powerful teaching from Hopi Indian Chief White Eagle that lifted my spirit and gave me a new way of looking at things.

He said:

“This moment humanity is experiencing can be seen as a door or a hole. The decision to fall in the hole or walk through the door is up to you. If you consume the news 24 hours a day, with negative energy, constantly nervous, with pessimism, you will fall into this hole.

But if you take the opportunity to look at yourself, to rethink life and death, to take care of yourself and others, then you will walk through the portal.

Take care of your home, take care of your body. Connect with your spiritual home. When you take care of yourself, you take care of everyone at the same time.

…Resistance is resistance through joy! You have the right to be strong and positive. And there’s no other way to do it than to maintain a beautiful, happy, bright posture.

When we cross the threshold, we have a new worldview because we faced our fears and difficulties. This is all you can do now:

– Serenity in the storm

– Keep calm, pray everyday

– Make a habit of meeting the sacred everyday.

…Show resistance through art, joy, trust and love.”

These words made me pause and reflect. They reminded me that no matter how chaotic the outside world may appear, the choice of how we respond rests within us. We can drown in fear, or we can step through the door into growth, healing, and a deeper connection with life.

The truth is, this world is neither purely rosy nor entirely thorny. A rose, soft and fragrant, blooms on a stem covered with sharp thorns. The beauty does not erase the thorns, and the thorns do not diminish the rose. Both exist together.

An optimist may see only the rose, while a pessimist sees only the thorns. But a realist recognizes that life is always both—the blessings and the hardships, the joys and the sorrows. Wisdom is learning to admire the rose without being blinded by it, and respecting the thorns without being wounded by them.

Chief White Eagle’s message is a reminder that resilience comes not from denial or despair, but from balance—from facing reality with serenity, caring for ourselves and others, and finding joy even amid trials. When we do this, we not only endure the storm—we walk through the door into a brighter, more compassionate world.

Link: https://peacelilysite.com/2025/09/10/finding-the-rose-among-the-thorns/

The Grandma’s Recipe: Finding Hope in Life’s Challenges

Photo by Marko Klaric on Pexels.com

Life often presents us with a mix of challenges, ranging from personal struggles to family issues and health problems. It can be overwhelming, especially for a young boy, as he opens up to his Grandma about everything going wrong. However, through a simple baking analogy, Grandma imparts a profound lesson about the nature of adversity and the importance of trust and faith in difficult times.

In the midst of school problems, family issues, and serious health concerns within the family, the little boy finds solace in confiding in his Grandma. He shares his frustrations, expressing how everything seems to be going wrong in his life. Unfazed by the boy’s grievances, Grandma calmly continues her task of baking a cake. Recognizing the boy’s need for a snack, she offers him various individual ingredients used in baking, such as cooking oil, raw eggs, flour, and baking soda. The boy’s disgusted reactions reflect his belief that these items are unpleasant to consume on their own. In response to the boy’s repulsion, Grandma imparts a valuable lesson. She explains that while these ingredients may taste unpleasant individually, when combined in the right amounts and manner, they create a delicious cake. She further extends the analogy to the way God works in our lives.

Grandma draws a parallel between the ingredients in baking and the challenges we face in life. Just as the ingredients, when mixed together, create something wonderful, God works in mysterious ways to bring about goodness from our trials. While we may question why we endure difficult times, Grandma encourages us to trust in God’s divine plan.

Life’s challenges may seem overwhelming and bitter when viewed in isolation. However, Grandma’s wisdom reminds us that even the most difficult circumstances can serve a purpose and lead to positive outcomes. By placing our trust in God’s guidance, we can find meaning, growth, and resilience amidst the adversities we encounter.

The story of the little boy and his Grandma’s cake-baking analogy provides a powerful reminder of the transformative potential hidden within life’s challenges. Like the ingredients in a cake, our trials and tribulations may appear unappealing when viewed individually. However, with faith and trust, we can embrace the belief that God’s hand is at work, orchestrating events in our lives for a greater purpose.

By embracing faith, trust, and resilience, we can find hope, strength, and a renewed sense of purpose, even in the face of adversity.

The Grandma’s Recipe: Finding Hope in Life’s Challenges

Link:https://peacelilysite.com/2023/05/25/the-grandmas-recipe-finding-hope-in-lifes-challenges/

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