I plucked a rose from the garden
this morning.....
the petals were freshly wet with dew;
As I breathed in gently it's lovely
fragrance, my thoughts precious
Lord were centered on You!

A thorn from the stem pierced the
tip of my finger, bringing forth
drops of blood so red;
I thought of the pain and the agony
You must have suffered as You hung
on that cruel cross and for all of
mankind Your blood was shed.

I thought of You kneeling all alone
in the garden, there at Gethsemane;
And I thought, even then, how You
must have known, You'd be shedding
Your precious lives blood for such
as me!

I thought of the pain You must have
felt, when they thrust that cruel
crown of thorns upon Your head;
Of how you so easily could have
escaped but You chose to die in
our place instead!

It should have been me hanging there
on that tree but You precious Lord
stood in my stead.
You took all my sins upon Yourself and
for my pardon, Your own blood was shed!

As I wiped the drops of blood from my
finger, my tears were flowing so fast
and so free;
I thought of all You had so freely
given for one such as I so weak and
so unworthy!

I fell to my knees in quiet wonder,
at this marvelous gift of Your love
so divine;
I felt deeply humbled by this love
You have given, and to think, that
this precious gift of Your love is
mine!  All mine!

Oh Lord there's no way I could
ever repay what You gave there that
day on that cross at Calvary;
But each morning as I kneel here
before Thee, I'm reminded of that
cruel cross on which You died and
shed Your precious blood for me.....
Oh what a price You paid to set me free!

"Oh Thank You Jesus!"
©~Helen Johnson~

Please visit Helen's site:  A Heart For God

Thank you, Helen for allowing me to use this beautiful poem.  I'm sure it will touch the hearts of many, as it did mine.  God bless you, my precious friend!