Did you stop and smell the roses as you walked through the Valley of Death and Despair?

Question

I fear that I have not given enough blessings and nurturing to the roses along the way as they have blessed me as they become the shadows of the valley which surround me. And yet, those blooms guide me still...the light in shadow, the faith in hope, the magic in doubt...the dreams which tremble to be born. To live in the Valley is to live in the Garden.

Answer 1

All I can say is WOW!

HAHA, love this question. To be able to see beauty in your deepest depths of despair would be an amazing talent I wish I had.

Beauty is all around.....Just look at the clouds, waves, birds, flowers. Beauty is everywhere, the hardest part is recognising it when you're down.

Nature is one of my biggest comforts. The flowers after the fire! Nature always blossoms after despair.

Answer 2

Suppose I can never stop, not too long anyhow, to smell down their Death, but I've felt the despair, and I've flew above the entire Valley, recently.
BUT, as far as I know, I'll never STOP to live in such places_
Farewell, and do what you can do (always more !?).

Do you know both Valleys? The Death one - I knew it for more than three years (once in a life time), and The Despair one just for let's say half of the last year (once in a life time). Between them I've found the beauty of the deep sky, all alone (again for once in a life time). Enough! Too much work to do by yourself! It's too much.
WHAT for should someone rest in those places?
What for?

Answer 3

One day I took a hike thought the Valley of Death (Nevada), and there the smell of the roses makes me a despairing one.
Today I do not stop smelling roses through decayed places (when the roses used once to smell good).

Answer 4

Do you mean "Through the valley of the shadow of death?"

I know that it is sometimes hard to see the silver lining when the dark clouds of despair, grief and remorse block ones ability to believe that better things could be ahead.
All is not lost and one can always start again.

Sometimes one should not be expected to feel joy when a tornado has just destroyed your home. But regroup and begin again is most fitting.
here is a rose for you as you travel any valley @>-,-'-,-'-,---
-'-,-'-,-<@

Answer 5

Yes. I still had roses blooming here until a few days ago. I think there still might be one pink one left, but the bush is about 8 feet tall now (too hyper from being fed Starbucks coffee grounds). Smelling the roses is aways better than sniffing the rotting carcasses.

Answer 6

We should read Psalm 23 in the context of the New Covenant. When we are born again we are all saints having the gift of righteousness in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:21) not by works but by faith (Ephesians 2:8,9). When we abandon the guidance of God and go our own way God's direction and protection are still with us as we are God's children. The rod is the symbol of the offensive weapon against our enemies. The staff is the symbol of the tool of guidance for us. Put together the meaning is that God will protect and guide us at all times even when we are wayward to give us opportunities to turn back to Him so that goodness and mercy shall follow us all the days of our lives. God bless you.

Answer 7

Yes, I did stop and smell the roses. But they never smelled as good as they do now that I'm out of the Valley of Death and Despair.
They CAN'T smell as good. Nothing can be as good when you're down and out..
But that time down can help you to put into perspective the absolute JOY you feel when you are free of the constraints of that awful place.

Answer 8

I have only been through the valley of death with others on their trip. Yeah, we did stop to smell the roses. If we hadn't it would have been a trip through hell instead it was peacefull.
You have to make the best out of the worst situations in order to make it tolerable somethimes.
It is harder to smell the roses on the trip through despair, though, for some reason.
I haven't figured out why.

Answer 9

Yes. In previous walks though varied personal valleys of death and despair, they were, sometimes, all that kept me going...

The fresh air seemed to cleanse my lungs, pretty flowers dried my eyes, a picturesque setting let just enough light into my mind and heart so that I could see some hope again.

Answer 10

I love the line from Tears for Fears 'Break it down again'
It refers to (I'm sure not original) phrase of the 'beauty of decay'.

So, as to your question, Yes, I did. Beauty is wherever you stop and look for it. You just have to look hard enough. And in a place of death and despair, to find a sign of beauty would truly be comforting.

Peace