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One autumn day my mother-in-law gave me a rose bush with a few beautiful yellow roses; they were large, very vibrant in color and emitted the most wonderful scent. I was so excited and could hardly wait to get home to plant my beautiful rose bush. I agonized on where to place the rose bush for hours, finally after moving the pot in every possible spot in the garden, I decided it looked its very best in the flower bed in the front of the house near the large picture window.

I quickly got to work and planted the bush as directed on the small information cardboard I found attached to one of the stems. I got the work done quickly and was very anxious to water the rose bush, I also decided to put some rose food to make sure the bush had all the nutrients it needed for the tough winter ahead.

We were barely recovering from my father-in-laws death two months before, when in early March my mother-in-law died suddenly. It was a difficult time for all, I found it very difficult but somehow I was comforted by the fact that I still had the rose bush to remember her by, the rose bush was a living reminder of the love I had for my mother-in-law. It was also a reminder to me of my faith and my belief of life after death, the yellow rose bush gave me so much comfort.

That spring in early June however the unexpected happened; my husband announced he wanted a divorce. Soon enough I also discovered that he had been having an affair with a family friend and that all my in-laws were aware of this affair for many years. I then also discovered that my mother-in-law who was so dear to me had known about the affair for years. I was devastated, I could not understand the betrayal, hurting me and my three boys, her grandsons was incomprehensible to me.

In one passionate moment I ran to my front garden and fiercely ripped the rose bush from its roots, I could not even look at it, I did not want it in my garden, I did not want to remember her in any way. I carried the pain of her betrayal in my heart, every spring that yellow rose bush would somehow sprout its leaves and every spring I would rip every stem from the ground. This went on for 8 long years, without ceasing, I could not find forgiveness in my heart for my mother-in-law, I could not bring myself to let go of the betrayal and the hurt. I wanted to forgive her because I could no longer bear the pain that I carried so heavily on my shoulders. I had to forgive not because it was a feeling but because it was a decision to let go of the pain and the betrayal, I did not want to hurt anymore.

That spring when finally forgiveness came, the rose bush sprouted its leaves again, I sighed when I saw the first buds bursting through. I lovingly pruned , watered and nurtured the yellow rose bush, taking care to say a prayer for my mother-in-law knowing that she had betrayed me, but also able to forgive her. I cried sincerely as I held the very first yellow rose in my hand, smelling its beautiful scent, knowing that God understood my tears and only He knew the price I had paid for my yellow rose.

Learn more about this author, Sara Reda Vinci.
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