Do you notice the funky growth at the top of the rose bush? It is called Rosette Disease. The disease is actually a virus spread by a tiny mite. Once the rose bush gets Rosette Disease, things bleak for the future of the plant. Almost always, the plant has to be removed completely.

I have look at a lot of information on this disease hoping to save my rose bush. Everything tells me that there is no hope for my roses and that to prevent it from spreading to the other roses next to them, I need to remove that rose bush entirely. They give tips on how to remove it being extremely careful not to spread the mites and being very thorough making sure to get all of the roots. They even tell you not to replant a rosebush there until a long time has gone by.

I have been stubborn and watching this rose bush with the hope in my heart that it will recover. I am watching to make sure that the mites are keeping to just the one rose bush, but I know that I am tempting fate by not removing it immediately.

I have so many connections that I can make with this. Today, I feel inspired to talk about strive, division, hate, bigotry, racism, sexism, and all of the other ugly things of this world that are most definitely not put into place by our loving Heavenly Parents.

Around 2016, things got really ugly in our country. So much division. 2020 made things worse with Covid and everyone keeping to themselves but taking to online platforms to spew their disgust, frustration and anger over anything and everything they could.

Some people would interact with them and continue on a battle of words. Some would fuel the fire. Some would just read and quietly wonder if they really knew the people they called their friends. It was a really hard time. Satan had a wonderful time during those years.

Divisiveness is so much like the Rosette Disease, a virus spread by a microscopic mite. Just like we cannot see the mite, we cannot see Satan. It does not mean that they are not real, and they are not there. They are both very real, and they can both do great damage.

As the mite is unable to be seen, it can wreak havoc among the beauty of the rose bush. Turning what was once beautiful now becoming distorted and ugly. What once brought joy to behold, now brings sorrow.

As we honor the memory of those killed in 9/11, as we come upon another election year, as we remember those killed in another school shooting, as families are being torn apart by addictions and infidelity, let us remember that we all have the power to be the peacemaker.

As we honor these lives and the freedoms our country has to offer, let us decide and become determined to share love and not hate. To show empathy instead of impatience. To show kindness and understanding instead of frustration and rudeness.

There is so much hurt, pain and loneliness in this world. Find someone that needs you to reach out to them. Pray about it. God will send a name to you. A name that only you can give His love to in the way that He desires.

On Monday, we celebrate President Russell M. Nelson’s 100th birthday. He is the current living prophet of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. His only birthday wish was for us to go and find the 1 and serve them.

He is referencing the 1 of the 99 from the parable of the lost sheep:

“And he spake this parable unto them saying, what man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it? And when he hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing. And when he cometh home, he calleth together his friends and neighbors, saying unto them, rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost.” (Luke 15:3-6, KJV)

I myself was the lost sheep. Christ looked for me for a long time. He was in relentless pursuit of me. I am so grateful that He did not give up. He found me, and I was a mess. I needed Him so badly. He rescued me and took me back to my fold. I am forever grateful to Him.

What a wonderful thing President Nelson invited us to do for his birthday. I have committed to do this as often as my daily life allows for. I frequently have names come to my mind and I try to stop what I am doing and reach out to them. If I cannot stop what I am doing at the moment, I reach for my phone to make a reminder or send a quick text. It is so quick and simple. It has brought joy to my heart.

I know that if we can all adopt a mindset of looking for the 1, that we can help to suffocate the efforts of the adversary by spreading love and service to each other. There will be days that you will be the 1 that needs the love and service but there will be many more days where you can be the one to love and serve the 1.

Don’t engage in the strife and conflict. Be the peacemaker. I know that I am making this sound really easy. I am working hard at being better with it every day. We are not built to change overnight. That is okay, God knows our heart. He will help us. He cheers when we accomplish the good. He cheers for you constantly.