A Poem Tribute to Family Retreats

It’s not often Celeste isn’t smiling. The joy of the Lord that she exudes spills over onto everyone who meets her. Having cerebral palsy might slow Celeste’s stride, but it certainly doesn’t stop her from serving. Several days a week she volunteers at Joni and Friends, and last summer she also served as an STM at our Murrieta Family Retreat. Not only were the campers blessed, but so was Celeste. In fact, after reflecting on her time at Family Retreat, she was inspired to write this beautiful poem. May her words encourage you richly, and cause you to consider serving at Family Retreat in your region.

God’s Flower Garden
There is a place where God’s most gorgeous roses grow.
In Murrieta Hot springs around a beautiful lake, where parents bring their special blooms, a much needed break.
The roses are those with special needs, their disability a thorn.
Some come by them accidently, others with them born.
They come from different gardens spread far and wide.
Each year, one week is always set aside.
Five days in fertile soil, free from therapy and toil.
The roses get spoiled, with food, fun, and fellowship with friends, laughter that never ends, thanks to Joni and Friends.
Some start off shy at first, their petals tightly closed.
But as the sun shines down upon them and the wind gently blows, it’s a marvelous thing to witness, the blooming of a rose.
On their last night together this beautiful bouquet, celebrates each other in a special way.
They sing, dance and tell a joke or two. Thorns melt away, and hearts do too.
As they say goodbye and go their separate ways, the countdown begins, only three hundred and sixty days.