Let me tell you the story of two flowers.

There once were two roses,
Who the same time were planted,
And by the same earth were nurtured.
The same sun shone upon them both,
The same good God satiated their thirst.

One used all the resources
To the greatest effect for growth.

The other thought there was time,
And wanted to delay its maturity.

The first rose grew tall and great in splendor,
And all who came to the Good Gardener's garden
Praised the rose and the efforts of the Gardener.

The second rose languished, and its stem drooped
Because it had not the strength to keep it firm.
Its roots began to rot from the unused water
And the leaves began to brown.
Yet still it enjoyed the resources
Without any of them using
And without thanking the Good Gardener.

Finally the season turned and the nights grew chill.

The head of the first flower was cut
And pressed and displayed with honor
Before its body turned brown and fell.

The second flower, having nothing to show,
Pleaded with the Gardener for a second chance,
Saying "Why had I just one year?
Had I known I would have been prepared."

To this the Gardener replied,
"I fed you and I clothed you,
I gave you everything you needed;
I watched over you with love and care
And gave the clouds rain when you needed it most.

I had more to give you,
And I yearned to bless you and give you honor.

Yet all of these things you have ignored,
All of these things you felt not gratitude for,
And all the time I blessed you with
You have squandered and wasted.

All these things I did for you,
Yet you complained and claimed I did not care.

I gave you the time you had,
And if I gave it to you again
Yet you would still do the same.

So though I love you still and wish you more,
Though I long to restore you to me,
You have resisted
And have no fruit to show.

Now you have no time to grow,
And now you fade away from memory.

Though now you claim to have given your nutrients to others,
That they may grow while you suffer,
Though you claimed it was all for charity
You & I both know that's not what happened.
You let my gifts waste away and rot.

If I gave you another chance,
You would yet only waste it again.

So now is your time
To receive recompense for your deeds.

I am Love, yet I am Just;
All deeds have consequences.
I wish you had come to Me,
But you have not;
So farewell, goodbye, my lost one."

-Anne B. Caitlin