Jack’s Winning Words 3/10/21

“My life is part roses, part thorns.”  (Bret Michaels)  Perhaps you saw Bret on Trump’s Apprentice program.  He’s a  heavy-metal rock singer and I’m told he is a very generous person.  One of his songs relates to today’s quote.  I like the rose as a beautiful flower, but I don’t like the thorns.  I’m a firm believer that good can come out of bad…if you look for it.  Bret’s life seems to express this, and I know that mine does too. If you see thorns today, remember to look for the rose.  ;--)  Jack

FROM COPPER COUNTRY REV:  I like it!    Sometimes we even need to be thorns.   I'm presently a thorn in the side of a friend in California in hopes that his lovely bud will not die on the vine but blossom into a beautiful flower. ===JACK:  Thorns aren't always bad.  On the farm, once in a while the horse needs the whip.  I remember times when I needed the whip and got it.

FROM ST PAUL IN ST PAUL:  i like this line:  you can curse the rose bush for having thorns or you can bless the thorn bush for having roses.   it's the SAME bush.   blessings on all your thorns and roses:):):) ===JACK:  Yes, it's part of my mantre...When bad things are happening, look for the good.  Often, good comes from bad, if you look for it.===SP:  you are such a wise fellow:):):) ===JACK:  There are values in aging.

FROM JU IN NC:  The rose is such a beautiful flower, God placed thorns around it to protect it.  My life is so beautiful to God, that he put a sword (His Word) to surround it for protection.===JACK:  You certainly have a story to tell about protection.  But, each of us in our own way, are "Safe in the arms of Jesus," as the song goes.

FROM SMILIN' TERI:  Love this one, too.  I like this better than what I tell myself...”every day has garbage; every day has joy.”===JACK:  Garbage or thorns?  The same unwanted things.  There's symbolism in the Crown of Thorns that Jesus wore.

FROM LBP:  There is a reflection exercise I’ve seen at a few places now - rose, thorn, bud. What was good? What was not so good? What are you hoping for? ===JACK:  In real life, roses come with thorns.  It's up to us to "accent the positive (rose) and eliminate the n egative (thorn).

FROM HOMELESS:  I am trying. Today's been an exceptionally hard day, but I have been trying to push for the rose.  I appreciate the reminder===JACK:  I belong to a group called, The Optimist Club.  There are some days when I feel that I belong to the Pessemist Club.  It's hard to be upbeat all of the time.  Eventually I come to the realization that life goes better with optimiswtic thinking.

FROM NORM'S BLOG:  That’s a pretty simple thought and one that everyone can probably say about their own life. We all encounter adversities (thorns) in life and most of us can probably also point to beautiful moments (the roses) in our lives. A good number of us probably spent much of our lives focused upon doing things to avoid the thorns – to reduce the risks that we may encounter. A few spend their lives so focused upon the good things in life that they may become classified as Pollyannas.===JACK:  Some days I have trouble posting things from your blog.  I'm glad today iks not opne of those days (Altho I wish the font was bigger)