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The crowds
hurried
through the
city streets
... it was a
Friday and
everyone was
in a big
hurry. The
flower vendor
had sold out
of flowers and
was closing up
shop. He heard
the bell
jingle on the
wooden door
and looked up.
An old man was
standing that
with his hat
in his hand
... and a look
of disbelief
on his face as
he saw the
flower vases
empty.
"Sorry,
Mister...I
sold out about
fifteen
minutes ago. I
am closed."
The old man
looked up at
him and gently
spoke...almost
in a
whisper..."I
only wanted
just one rose
... pink
tipped in gold
... surely you
have just one
rose left."
"No, sir...I
tell you all
the roses are
long gone... I
did order the
kind of roses
you are
talking about
but they are
all gone. They
went like hot
cakes. You
know ... it is
Valentine's
Day. Roses
always sell
out on
Valentines."
The old man
looked in the
refrigerator...
"Sir, please
check in the
back ...
check...I
believe you
will find a
rose for my
wife. You see,
she loves
roses. They
are her
favorite. And
for the last
62 years, I
have always
given her a
rose."
The florist
wanted to get
home to his
wife so he
decided to
humor the old
man. He went
in the back.
On the table,
lay a rose ...
just as the
man had
described. He
wrapped in it
in green paper
and tied a bow
around it ...
shaking his
head as he
did. He could
have sworn he
had cleaned
this table off
hours ago.
He walked out
front and
handed it to
the old man
... who was
smiling the
biggest smile
he had ever
seen.
"Thank you,
son. How
much?"
"No charge,
sir. Just tell
your wife I
said "Happy
Valentines."
Well, son... I
wish I could.
You see she
died this past
Christmas. I
am going to
take this to
her grave... I
just could not
let a
Valentine's
Day go by
without taking
her a rose.
You see, son,
she was the
love of my
life ... and
although I can
no longer be
with her... I
still love her
more than I
ever thought
possible.
Sometime I
will be with
her again. But
until then, as
long as I am
here... I will
take her a
rose. So,
son...I will
be seeing you
again.
As he watched
the man walk
out the store,
he heard his
parting words
through his
own misty
eyes... "Son
... when you
go home
tonight ...
give your wife
a rose ... and
tell her how
much you love
her ... and
whenever you
see a rose ...
or touch its
velvet
petals...I
pray you
remember True
love never
really dies.
May this
Valentine's
Day find you
with roses in
your hand and
love in your
heart? And
remember...
True love
never really
dies ... it
stays in the
heart forever
and a day!"
Marsha
B. Smith
IN GOD WE TRUST
 The Second Coming
From
My Desk
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