In loving memory of Kristin Ann Kay
March 24, 1981 - July 24, 1993
The Lesson of the Rose
Some time after our 12 year-old daughter, Kristin, died from osteosarcoma several friends gave us a rose bush to plant in our garden in her memory. It was a “Kings Ransom Rose” and the card read: “In memory of Kristin Ann Kay; who was worth more than a Kings ransom.” And, indeed she was. She taught us so much about life during her two year struggle against her cancer, and while we didn’t realize it at the time this gift in her memory was to teach us about death.
We planted the bush in the dreariness of late winter which mirrored the gloom in our hearts as we mourned Kristin’s death. We eagerly watched and waited as spring came for it to begin to put forth the rosebuds that would eventually bloom into beautiful flowers. As we watched we saw that the plant was having a hard time getting starred because this was its first year. Buds would appear only to wither away. Finally one looked as though it was going to make it. Then, as we watched, it became full and as we waited for it to open and show the world its beauty, tragedy struck. Kristin’s sister, Brittany, and a friend were playing ball in the back yard and the ball knocked the stem off the bush. When we found it laying there in the dirt, wilted, we were so disappointed because we had been looking forward to enjoying that bloom. The bud was still very tight, none of its inner beauty showing fort, We took it in, trimmed the stem and placed it in a vase. We didn’t think it would open, having been cut off from the bush so early, but we couldn’t give up. We watched as it slowly began to open and reveal its true beauty. It blossomed into the most beautiful and delicate rose we had ever seen.
Their gift became an allegory of Kristin’s life and God has used it to comfort us more than they could have imagined. Like the rose she was taken from us much too soon, but she didn’t give up, she believed that the best was yet to be and in her dying her true beauty began to blossom. She faced her death in the final moments without fear and left us with a smile on her face that reflected her faith in God.
In the second verse of his hymn “Where the Soul Never Dies”, William Golden, speaking of heaven wrote, “A rose is blooming there for me, where the soul (of man) never dies.” We now have a rose in heaven also and we look forward to the day when we will see her in all of her beauty.
Kristin, you were such a brave and special girl. You brought a special joy to everyone’s life. We love you and miss you so much.
- Mom, Dad and Brittany
