SHE ASKED FOR 3 YELLOW ROSES

May 9th was Mother’s Day, Aunt Rose asked for 3 Yellow Roses from my cousin Mel. Hi my name is Raquel Rivera Ford; Mel and I are just 2 of Aunt Rose’s 18 nieces. Aunt Rose also has 18 nephews. Big family, huh? And she was the youngest of 9 children. Altho Aunt Rose was single she took care of lots of little nephews and nieces, most of whom are gathered here tonight. By the way, Mel never gave her the Yellow roses she had asked for: There weren’t any to be found.

Around that time in May she was going thru a rough period. The physical symptoms of nausea, vomiting, pain, shortness of breath, loss of weight, and loss of appetite, all these she managed quite bravely. It is the other symptoms: fear, the pain of leaving her precious great nephews and nieces, her work at the county, and what about the children back in the Philippines whom she is paying tuition for school? All these were uncertainties of her future, and most especially not knowing whether when and how she is going to die, or whether her soul is spiritually ready. All these thoughts she takes with her in her sleep each lonely day, in the endless dark nights of her soul.

I remember Aunt Rose, as she tries to show up for any of our family gatherings. We know she will always be late because she never takes the freeway. The thought of driving the sidestreets from Glendale to Torrance or Redondo Beach where the celebration might be is enough suffering for that matter not to mention that she has to leave her house earlier than most of us. So even if she is late she is already forgiven!

She asked for a yellow rose last Mother’s Day. . The color Yellow speaks of trial and purging. From the color yellow we find its counterpart in the principles of gold. Fire which is always used in the purification process also
comes in the category of yellow.

The church’s great apostle Peter, in his 1st letter to the early Christians, he wrote:

“That the trial of your faith being more precious than gold that is perishable even tho tested by fire may prove to be for praise, glory, and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. Altho you have not seen Him, you love Him. Even tho you do not see Him now yet You rejoice w/ an undescribable and glorious joy, as you attain the goal of your faith, which is the salvation of your soul. (1Peter1:7-9)

The yellow roses that she had asked for was her desire and hope for a greater happiness.
Today we offer these yellow roses as a symbol of the honor bestowed on her through her sufferings by our Lord. With our prayers we thank Jesus and we thank you Aunt Rose for life and your sufferings!

We extend our thanks to everyone for sharing yourselves with our family at a time of grief, yet we could not have done this if God had not loved us so much. The reason for all of us being here is the yellow Rose of forgiveness, tested in fire.

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now and will be forever. Amen.