The Beauty of the Rose

There is no flower on earth that grows

As beautiful as heaven's rose

There is no flower on earth that grows

As beautiful as heaven's rose

To grasp the glory of thisÝ rose

You mustÝ grasp its thorn as well

Amidst the thorns lies beauty

Growing at the edge of hell

Though laid down in the fallow ground

Where now a garden grows

The gardener grafts us to his root

So share the life of heaven's rose

Oh feel the thorns cut deeply

And the flowing blood now see

Smell the sweet perfume of life

The crushed bloom sets free.

Oh bear the thorn that rends your flesh

Knowing the sufficiency

Of the one whose bottle keeps each tear

And records them for eternity.

Look now and see

His blazing glory

Shines amidst uncounted woes.

Pruned and cut down

His cross yields a crown

For he died and then arose.

There is no flower on earth that grows

As beautiful as heaven's rose

There is no flower on earth that grows

As beautiful as heaven's rose

Anthony Foster

April 4, 2005