What does a Red Rose symbolizes?  Love… Respect… Courage… and Passion… Have you ever received a red rose?  Have you ever received a red rose from GOD?

It was March 1995, after working for 6 years handling 2 departments in a multinational automotive company that I resigned from my work.  Due to a conflict with new management… I have finally decided to call it quits.  Being proud of myself… having an educational qualification from a prestigious university and vast experience in the automotive industries on technical, management, financial and marketing… I know that I can do better.

Now, I have opened up the door to new opportunities.  But selecting for your career is just like selecting for the clothes you want to wear for an occassion… I have lot of  choices…  business, sales, local employment or working abroad. 

In business, your earnings depends on how much effort and money you will be investing into.

In sales, you have a product and a customer… I only need to convince the customer to purchase the product.

For local employment, I could easily get offers from other companies.

Working abroad, that was my last choice.  I have been to Japan for 6 months and being away from your family is a big sacrifice.

I have put up a small business… done some sales and work part time jobs just to find my path .

During this period, I was diagnose with Diabetes and have lost 10 kgs.  I also had a vertigo and for 3 months I have been bed ridden since a sudden movement of my head will result to a colorful vomit.   I have lost my sense of balance and could not tilt my body for I will automatically fall.

I was at the peak of my career when suddenly I found myself  stumbling down to uncertainties.  Whenever we fall, we try to cling to anything or anyone… and in my case  I can only cling to GOD.

My wife was seeing what is happening to my situation and secretly she prayed and asked for GOD's guidance.  To be able to be sure, she asked GOD to give her a sign… a specific sign.  A Jasmine  if GOD wants me to engage into business or sales, a White Rose if GOD would want me to work locally and a Red Rose if GOD needs me to work abroad.  And she also asked for a specific date… Sunday (17 Dec) just to be sure that it is His message.  What ever will be the result… the important thing is GOD answers prayers.

For a whole week, she has been constantly praying and thinking how GOD could answer… how could she receive flowers.  As the date closes… the question lingers… what if GOD didn't give any answer.  Again this is a prayer she has kept to herself…

Saturday night (Dec 16), My wife and I were suppose to attend a church teaching but she could not be able to come.  She needs to take our children somewhere.  At that particular activity in the church, I unexpectedly received a red rose.  I took it home and upon reaching my place, I found that she has not arrived.  So I placed the flower in her dresser and wrote a message... A Rose from GOD since it comes from our church.

She arrived late 12:10 in the morning the following day … it was Sunday (Dec. 17) and seeing the rose she rushed to my side and have told me of her prayers… and the message is clear.  Red Rose … Work Abroad.  Though this was the last option on my list, I said… If it is His will then let us follow.  That day I drop all my plans and focused on working abroad.  Within 3 months everything work smoothly… I was able to find a company that will allow me to take my family with me.  I have even passed my medical.  It seems He has paved the way for His plan to work. 

I have now been working in Bahrain for the past 13 years and I have been blessed tremendously.  I have learned that whatever we have… good looks, health,  money, our family and friends are all coming from GOD and anytime He wants it back… He can take it.  We cannot attain success on our own without Him allowing it and that we should everyday thank Him for all the blessings we are receiving.

What is a Red Rose? For me, it is GOD talking to us and we should allow Him to work in our life.