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The Gift of a Rose

Have you ever noticed how it’s often the little things in life that pull at your heartstrings the most?





Who would’ve guessed that a simple daily ring of the doorbell could bring a 70-year-old woman to tears, but it does—every single day.


Let me take you back to a Sunday morning a month ago. I was rushing to make it on time to SRF (Self-Realization Fellowship) in downtown Phoenix, a beautiful spiritual center founded by Yogananda, the second yogi to bring his teachings to America. As fate would have it, I saw flashing lights in my rearview mirror—pulled over, and given a speeding ticket. Not exactly the ideal way to start a peaceful Sunday, but life happens, right?


I still made it to SRF, though I was about 30 minutes late. I sat outside the main hall, grateful that they had speakers broadcasting the service, allowing me to catch the message. As I settled in, the monk shared a story that moved me deeply—so much so that I found myself on the verge of tears.


The story was about a couple, a beautiful love story full of depth and devotion.


The husband, Joe, had recently passed away after a long battle with cancer. His wife, Alice, shared how they did everything together—yoga, spiritual discourses, reading, and traveling. Their life had been rich with love, but since his passing, the silence in their home had become unbearable.


One day, a week after Joe’s death, Alice heard the doorbell ring. A young man stood there with a single rose in his hand. Confused, she asked who it was from, but the delivery boy didn’t know—he was just doing his job. The next day, the same thing happened. And the next. Every day at 2 PM, a single rose would arrive, delivered by the same young man.


Eventually, Alice’s curiosity got the best of her, and she asked the delivery man to take her to the source. It turned out to be the same floral shop she and Joe had visited just before his passing. Unbeknownst to her, Joe had arranged for a rose to be delivered to her every day for the rest of her life.


Hearing this story, I couldn’t help but tear up. Joe’s gesture was more than a romantic gift—it was a reminder that love transcends even death. It was a beautiful act of devotion, one that kept Alice connected to Joe long after he was gone.


What really hit me was the lesson Alice shared from her experience. Life doesn’t go as planned. We make plans, but life has its own agenda. Sometimes doors shut, and we’re left waiting, unsure if or when the next one will open. But in the midst of the uncertainty and heartache, small gestures, like a daily rose, remind us that love and connection endure.


As we move into the holiday season, which can be a joyful time for some but equally hard for those who’ve lost someone, I want to ask you to consider two things:


  1. Reach out to someone you’ve been thinking about—text, call, or email—and let them know how much they mean to you.

  2. Take someone out for coffee or lunch, even if it’s just to reconnect.


You never know how much a simple gesture can mean to som

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