As a ministry, we strive to celebrate diversity and to equip others to do the same. We celebrate the different parts everyone plays in the body of Christ. We love the different colored roses, all precious to the Divine Gardener, and the different stages of life and of growth that each rose finds herself in.
Our Divine Creator made us of every nation, tribe, people, and language. And I cannot wait until we get to heaven and sing as one voice, praising the Lamb!
After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb... with palm branches in their hands, and crying out with a loud voice, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!” ...and they fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, saying, “Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might be to our God forever and ever! Amen.”
(portions of Rev. 7:9-12, emphasis added)
In the meantime, to borrow from the Disney movie, Alice in Wonderland, my question for reflection is whether or not we are “painting the roses red”?
Are we celebrating the parts others play or are we painting the roses red?
Are we rejoicing in the beauty of the diversity of skin color our Creator has given us or are we painting the roses red?
Are we striving to allow each color rose to find her place in the kingdom, in service to the King, and in our hearts? Or, are we like the queen who only wanted red roses to begin with?
In 2019, Iron Rose Sister Ministries determined that the theme for the month of June would be “Celebrating the Parts Others Play.” I believe the Holy Spirit was guiding us to a timely encouragement and reflection. If there is any way that I, personally, or the ministry as a whole, can help encourage and equip you to celebrate the beautiful diversity that the Creator designed, please let me know.
May we avoid the fallacy of painting the roses red and may we lovingly serve as iron sharpening iron to one another if we perceive that another sister is doing so. I give you permission to call me out if you think I, in any way, am “painting the roses red.”
I love you my beautiful sisters of all shapes, sizes, colors, and perspectives. Thank you for being who you are and for sharing your lives with us.
M.
“Painting the Roses Red” video
Photo credit: “Queen Yelling Alice, Cards Painting Roses Red – Painting The Roses Red, Disney”
https://www.pngkit.com/view/u2w7e6r5w7r5e6y3_queen-yelling-alice-cards-painting-roses-red-painting/