It is only a tiny rosebud, a flower of God’s design.
But I cannot unfold the petals with these clumsy hands of mine.
And the secret of unfolding flowers is not known to such as I.
God opens this flower so sweetly, when in my hands it dies.
If I cannot unfold a rosebud, this flower of God’s design,
Then how can I have the wisdom to unfold this life of mine?
So I’ll trust in Him for leading each moment of my day.
I will look to Him for His guidance each step of the pilgrim way.
The pathway that lies before me, only my Heavenly Father knows.
I’ll trust Him to unfold the moments, just as He unfolds the rose.
– – – written by Darryl L. Brown at brownslord@hotmail.com
This is gorgeous! How true, indeed.
Who is the author? I’d like to put this on my blog but would like to give credit to the appropriate individual with a site link.
Please feel free to email me at jeanneillenye@sbcglobal.net with the author’s name.
Inspirational…I’m going to create a painting of a rosebud and wish to accompany it with this beautiful poem in my still life blog.
Thanks!
Jeanne
Georgy I came across your website (search) after reading the rosebud poem in my local newspaper TheSonoran News in Cave Creek Az,it included a story of a old and young ministers.
It was beautiful
May I use this to link to your website ?
I have two, maybe three site to use it for.
Hi Jay,
Yes , You can use that to link to me.
GeorgyN
Writing a devotional for a ladies Bible study and would like to add this poem in it someewhere, if God directs. Would it be ok with you if I added it just as long as I don’t receive money and I make sure to put your name on it so they know it wasn’t written by me?
Thank you.
Hi Alyce,
The author of this poem is unknown. You can use this poem for the purpose, just include a link to this page web address. Thats all.
God Bless You
Georgy N Joseph
Rosebud, a flower of God’s design
I would like to advise people that this author is known. No one has the right to repost with any links to any site.
Be advised that if you post, print, collect any said monies, etc. will result in further actions.
Noone has permission to post or print or give authorization of such actions.
DO NOT POST TO ANY OF YOUR SITES. This will result in a lawsuit. The author is known:
I am advising that this poem does not reach further circulation at this time. If you have any questions, feel free to contact me. Thank you for your cooperation.
Dear Wendy or Georgy?
Now I’m confused, how do I know who this really belongs to?
Although this is a beautiful poem and I thought would encourage women, not to mention that the ladies devotional that I was doing was going to be given to these ladies for just the occasion we were going to be attending. They were not going to publicize in any way.
How about this, both of you pray about it. See how God directs you. It can be a blessing but if it going to cause either of you to have hard feelings about this or if pride is in the way then keep it to yourself.
May He who gives all and has given all, bless you and your family. I do pray that He bring you peace in your heart as He showers you with His mercy and grace. In Jesus name I pray. Amen
P.S. I will not be using this as I don’t want to cause anyone to have hard feelings. I’m sure the Lord will give me the right words for the study to share with these women. It is for His glory and not my own.
Blessings,
Alyce :)
Dear Wendy,
I just realized that you didn’t say who the author was, just that the author is known. I tried clicking on your name to write to you and it doesn’t work. Perhaps I can email the author directly. Also, how did the poem get out if they didn’t want it used?
I do know that the enemy will try and stop us from lifting each other up, so I’m just wondering if this was one of his ways. Not many who love Jesus and want to share that love would say that they wouldn’t want something to be used for His glory.
Check out Galatians 5:19-26.
Are you following your own sinful nature or do you carry the fruit of the Spirit within you.
Not to be harsh just coming in Christ love to point some scripture out.
Blessings,
Alyce
I’ve come across this life changing poem. The poem talks about an old preacher and a young one who was willing to know the purposes and plans of God for his ministry. The old preacher started by reciting this poem thus unfolding a rosebud. The author is however unknown. Thanks for publishing.
great blog what looking for something like that since some times !
When I googled this poem, I came upon a beautiful website indicating that the poem is copyrighted by Darryl L. Brown. It appears on a number of websites.
When I googled this poem I turned up a number of sites. One said, “Author Unknown” but another one claimed it was copyrighted by Darryl L. Brown; while yet another one claimed authorship by Charlie Gilchrist!?!
The copyright is in the works and this poem was written for the old preachers back in the day by a lady who died of cancer. She has many paintings and poems but got thrown around after her death. She was a great and true christian lady who believed in God. So for the people that is using God’s name in vain and creating sarcastic remarks, you call yourself a christian. It is he who shall not judge or cast stones. If you like to know who the author is and give credit without rendering monies or any other type of payments than email me at wen_lynn@hotmail.com
The “old preacher” was the late Rev. I. H. Terry who pastored a thriving church for many years in Bakersfield, California. The “younger preacher” was Rev. Vaughn Morton who had just gone through a terrible divorce. Rev. Vaughn Morton currently is the pastor of Truth Tabernacle in Fresno, California. As a young evangelist, Rev. Morton told the story of Rev. Terry taking him into his garden, cutting a rosebud off a bush then handed it to him and told him to unfold it. Rev. Morton tried and made a mess of the rose. Then Rev. Terry told him to be patient and let God unfold his life. From that, Rev. Morton preached a sermon he titled, “Just Let It Unfold.” I happened to personally hear him preach this sermon in 1969 at Apostolic Gospel Church of Delano, California. The following week, a woman brought a framed piece of art that was a drawing of a rose around this poem. I don’t believe the real author has ever been given credit for the poem.
Dear Wendy & Jana,
Thank you for letting us all know about the truth of the story. I just wondered why neither of you have mentioned who the poet really is… It would seem that although we now know the story and that it was an old lady from California, we are still unaware of whom to credit with this wonderful expression of faith.
Considering the nature of this being we call the internet, would it not be better to make certain the correct person gets the credit rather than hoping that the work will not be copied/passed around.
Joe, I don’t recall the woman’s name. I do remember seeing the framed art she brought to the church after Rev. Morton preached the sermon, “Just Let It Unfold.” To be honest, I’m not entirely certain the woman authored the poem but she did have it typewritten with some rose artwork around it in the frame. I do believe her name was signed on it but, then again, she could have been signing her artwork. However, from my recollection I thought she was the artist and the author. My recommendation would be to call Rev. Morton and see if he could tell you. There is the possibility Rev. I. H. Terry wrote it because he was quite a poet. This is the website for Rev. Morton’s church and it has contact info there. The church office number is: (559) 225-1622.
P.S. The late Rev. I. H. Terry’s church was First Pentecostal Church in Bakersfield, California and is currently pastored by Leon Frost and Kevin Bradford. They might have more info, too. Of one thing I am certain, Rev. Vaughn Morton is the author of the sermon, “Just Let It Unfold.”
HI, MY NAME IS Darryl L. Brown.I AM NOW A PASTOR. I WANTED TO GET THIS POEM OUT MANY YEARS AGO. BUT I HAD NO IDEA IT WOULD GET OUT LIKE THIS. GOD GAVE ME THIS POEM IN 1974 I HAD LOST MY WIFE AND CHILDREN THROUGH ADULTERY. I WAS LOST, I SAT UPON A ROCK AND I WROTE BY INSPIRATION OF GOD THIS POEM IN ABOUT 3 MINUTES. I AND ONLY I HAVE THE COPY WRITE REGISTRATION NUMBER FOR ROSE BUD, I HAVE THE ORIGINAL TEMPLATES OF CARDBOARD AND WOOD I USED TO MAKE THE FIRST ONES. I SOLD ABOUT 12 OF THOSE WOODEN PLAQUES AROUND 1975. I STILL HAVE A ORIGINAL PLAQUE. AND 3 OF MY FAMILY MEMBERS STILL HAVE A ORIGINAL ONES ALSO THAT I MADE IN 1974. I HAVE A COPY WRITE NUMBER AND WILL GIVE IT TO EVER MAY NEED IT. I HAD THE COPY WRITE DONE IN 1985. I NEVER PUT THAT STORY ABOUT TWO PREACHERS, SOMEONE ADDED THAT TO IT. I WANTED TO REACH EVERYONE NOT ONLY CHRISTIANS BUT PEOPLE WHO MAYBE SEARCHING FOR GOD! I’M SORRY I TOOK SO LONG TO FIND THIS SITE BUT I AM GLAD I DID. PLEASE WRITE BACK I WOULD LOVE TO HEAR FROM ALL OF YOU. I HAVE SENT PROOF TO ABOUT TWO WEB SITES ALREADY SO THEY COULD USE MY POEM. I COULD DO THE SAME FOR YOU. BUT I WANT TO WARN THOSE WHO WOULD LIE AND CLAIM THIS POEM, THE COURTS WILL JUDGE YOU AND THEN GOD WILL HAVE THE FINAL SAY!
P.S. GOD RESTORED MY WHOLE FAMILY BACK TO ME. I AND NOW I HAVE 12 GRAND CHILDREN AND 3 GREAT GRANDS.
THANK YOU FOR LOVING ROSE BUD I BELIEVE GOD WANTS THE WORLD TO HAVE THIS POEM.
PASTOR DARRYL L. BROWN
ABOUT ROSE BUD. IF YOU WISH TO CONTACT ME HERE IS MY EMAIL ADDRESS. brownslord@hotmail.com
Thank you so much, Darryl L. Brown
There is more than one who claims to be the author of this poem and even some who claim it was stolen. While I have no dog in this fight, the story of the two preachers was not “added to” as Pastor Brown stated, but happened several years BEFORE. Pastor Brown claims to have written it in 1974 but the incident with Rev. I. H. Terry and Rev. Vaughn Morton happened in the late 60’s. Rev. Terry is now deceased but I have posted contact info above for Rev. Morton.
WELL JANA, MY NAME IS DARRYL L. BROWN MY CELL NUMBER IS 678-497-7835 I AND ONLY I HAVE ALL THE PROOF ANYONE WOULD NEED IN A COURT OF LAW IF I WANTED TO PROVE THAT GOD GAVE ME THIS POEM IN 1974. NOTE: I DID NOT INSTALL THE STORY OF THE TWO PREACHERS IN THE ORIGINAL TEXT. MY COPY WRITE REGISTRATION NUMBER HAS THE ORIGINAL INTRODUCTION AND POEM GOD GAVE ME. SO IF YOU WISH TO KNOW THE TRUTH I HAVE ALL OF IT AND NO ONE ELSE CAN CLAIM TO HAVE ANY PROOF. I HAVE THE COPY WRITE NUMBER, I WITNESSES, ORIGINAL PLAQUES MADE OUT OF WOOD PAPER AND MINIATURE ROSES. I WILL PROBABLY GET PROFESSIONAL HELP NOW BECAUSE THAT SO PEOPLE ARE TRYING TO STEAL WHAT GOD HAS GIVING TO THE WORLD.FELL FREE TO CONTACT ME HERE ALSO HERE IS MY EMAIL ADDRESS. brownslord@hotmail.com P.S. MAYBE THE STORY OF THE TWO PREACHERS DID HAPPEN BUT I NEVER HEARD UNTIL I READ ON MY POEM. SOME ONE ADDED IT TO IT. GREAT STORY BUT I BELIEVE GOD WANTS TO REACH ALL PEOPLE NOT ONLY CHRISTIANS.
Darryl, with all due respect, it really doesn’t matter to me and I have no desire to spend time on something that does not affect me. If you feel so strong about it, you can contact Rev. Vaughn Morton at the number I gave in a previous comment and call him. He can probably give you verification that he did indeed preach the message, “Just Let It Unfold” in the late 1960’s. Your proof of writing something in 1974 cannot take precedent of something done in the 60’s.
Jana, I have no idea what you are talking about. No body could have wrote this poem but God and me. The preacher story belongs to him I guess. But not the poem. And I guess you didn’t read what I offered, proof! but I’am going to leave it alone at this point because I feel there is something behind you. God will fight for His right! I also sense that fact that you have no respect for God or His leadership, what authority hurt you when you were younger? I caution you to leave this matter alone for God has always protected me fully. Please back down I will help the people who would like to use my poem the right way. and to those who want to steal, I say to them …STOLEN WATERS ARE SWEET AND BREAD EATEN IN SECRET IS PLEASANT But he knoweth not that the dead are there; and that her guests are in the depths of hell.
Mr. Brown, unfortunately, your spirit of discernment is quite off. I have been involved in ministry for over 50 years and have full respect for God, His kingdom, His ministers, and His Word. If anyone should, as you stated “back down,” then maybe it should be you. I am not fighting against you nor your poem. Perhaps it would be best to re-read the above question that was presented and all the comments given. No one was fighting against you but merely stated you are not the only one who claims to own the poem.
I don’t have your poem, have never used your poem, and have no intentions of doing so. Therefore, I am not stealing anything from what you claim to possess so I would suggest you not put me “in the depths of hell” for “stolen waters” and threaten me.
It seems to me you would rather argue than pick up your phone and call Rev. Morton. Maybe he could send you a copy of his sermon.
Go ahead and have the last word. I will not respond further.
God bless you.
To all of the people who try’s to say they say they wrote this poem.Are a big fat liars.My mother wrote this pome!!And I can prove it.Her name was Vernie McMqueen White.I do not know how this pome got out of control. All these peole clam they wrote it.But I do know when it was first publisshed and the books it is in that right moore then one book and Iam not saying where they r.AND THE TRUE AUNTHOR IS VERNIE McMqueen White.And was a true christian women and a great artist.And for all those who say they wrote it.THY SHELL NOT LIE!!!
Dear Ann P. I really believe you think your dear mother wrote this poem, but for your information I still have the original receipt from the print shop in Staten Island New York. The store moved but I have their new address. I have the only copyright number. Thank God I was lead to do that in 1985. No one in this world can provide any other proofs such as I have. I have my original templates I used to make my first poems. I sold 12 of these in the 1970s. I believe this is how my poem got on the web in the first place. I also have eye witnesses who I gave or sold them to. They still have the plaques I sold or gave them. They look aged and worn now. What else must I do to prove this. I even left my email and person cell number so anyone seeking to ask permission or challenge me about the authorship can do so at anytime. Please, this a beautiful poem that God breathed into my life came when I needed him the most! I had lost my wife my children my job, my mind I had nothing until I gave up and gave in. Jesus changed my whole life! and brought my family back. I own my home, with no mortgage. I am a Pastor of our Church called Jesus The Foundation Ministries Inc. In Lithia springs, Ga. You can Find It in Georgia Corporations. I have nothing to hide and nothing to gain other than eternal life and the greatest kingdom in the world! So please everyone let’s stop trying to claim and blame. This poem is for the world so lets give it to them without Satan trying to use the old Divide and conquer trick.
Love from a pure heart, Pastor Darryl L.Brown.
P.S. My poem first got out without me knowing about it. Then people starting removing my name. My poem came with my personal introduction and my copyright symbol and they still tried to claim and change it. I believe God wants my wife and I to write a book about how we overcame the worst adultery your could ever imagine, as I write this note to you my wife is working on her part of the book! This poem is a very important part of our lives and will be included in our book, So please listen, Muslims are using it, New ages are using it God wants to have his way. Lets let him. Thank You.
You know that god say’s thy shell not lie and thy shell not still.God see your ever move and this is not your’s to claim I am glad that you like the poem but it not your’s.And you r not first pastor to lie.And my Lord Jesus know’s the truth.And I forgive you sir.I was not rise to disresspect my elder.Ann
My grandmother, Era Earlene Fleming is the author of that poem. A little has been changed. She wrote in sometime back in the 80’s, and my aunt still has the original. Its a shame people would take credit for someone elses poetry.
Prove it, I have about 15 witnesses how many do you have? Maybe you all did not understand what I said about my original receipt from the print shop, my original plaques. plus my copyright, what must I do go to my lawyer friend to protect my intellectual property! his company deal with law suites, besides having and friend that’s a lawyer I also have access to free law services that I can use. If you can give me 1/16th of the evidence that I have I will gladly repent and go see a christian physiologist.
In 1858 Oliver Wendell Holmes published a book called “Autocrat of the Breakfast Table”. In this book he mentions a poem,”The Rose-Bud”, found in the English edition of “Keble’s Christian Year,” in the section “The Fourth Sunday in Lent.” Holmes describes it as “angelic” and “sweeter than anything I can remember since Xavier’s “My God, I love thee.”
Keble’s book was published in 1827, and contains many other poems.
OOops. I just found a copy of the poem I referenced… Different Rose-bud…
I know this post has been up here for quite some time. I am just curious about a few things. Firstly about Darryl, whom I will not refer to as Pastor, because he is not my pastor nor can I verify credentials for ministry. As for pastor though, that title is reserved for those who you lead in your own congregation and we don’t submit to that authority and name on a blog space, but blessings to those in your congregation who do submit to you. My former and most beloved PASTOR, before he retired shared this poem with our church when I was very young and spoke of having received it from someone years ago. I don’t recall who or if he even mentioned a name, but I will say this would be before Daryll’s date of claiming to write the poem.
So one of two things has happened here, and both are plausible— a) Daryll found the poem, realized there was no author, decided to submit it for copywrite and claim it for himself or b) Daryll did actually write the poem, but someone else was actually divinely inspired to write it as well.
You can’t argue that this cannot be possible, because there were several divinely inspired writers of the word of GOD. Though their writings were not word for word, they were still inspired by GOD and without error. A man of GOD, who says GOD gave this poem to the world, shouldn’t be getting all uptight about whether his name is upon the poem or not. I don’t think the men of the BIBLE days ran around going, “Hey! I wrote that!” “No! I wrote that!” Hello?? GOD wrote it, those men penned it! Let’s honor this message for those it has helped and not fuss and fight over who the “rightful” author is. Rejoice that it has helped so many, and move on. The rightful person who penned the poem will most likely be rewarded in heaven far greater than any reward here on earth (unless he/she is fussy). No one is trying to make a dime, they just want to share the poem to help others! Isn’t that what we are commissioned to do when it comes to something supposedly divinely inspired by GOD? Being borderline hateful, threatening with lawyers, and showing a need for “me, me, me” is just greedy and un-CHRISTlike, in my honest opinion. Not the ways of any PASTOR I have had the privilege to respect, love, and have authority over me. Blessings in Christ, Jennifer
P.S. Daryll, if you did write this poem, why not use the technologies of today and post pictures of all your evidence on a website specifically geared to giving yourself the credit you think you deserve.
You have original evidence that will stand up in court. Let’s see it and end the madness that seems to be upsetting you. Scan the documents. Take pictures. Post documents. Post Photographs. I am sure if you have the original, a handwriting analysis could be done to prove it was penned in your hand as well.
It seems the original author didn’t want to be known, because he or she prefered the glory go to GOD alone and not to a name one could have easily written at the bottom of the poem to glorify themselves.