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| Lisa's Roses... |
There exists a neighborhood flower shop located in the heart of one of Pennsylvania's smallest cities. It is a family business where you will be welcomed with a smile from someone who is most likely a member of that family. You may find yourself reminiscing with Carmen who founded the shop in 1948.
Perhaps you will catch up on the latest news with his son, Greg, who now runs the business with his wife, Dorrie, at his side. You enter the shop as a friend and will spend a few minutes in friendly conversation before getting down to the business of the day. Simply put you understand that love rests between the flowers in that small store, and you will return to it again and again.
Perhaps you will catch up on the latest news with his son, Greg, who now runs the business with his wife, Dorrie, at his side. You enter the shop as a friend and will spend a few minutes in friendly conversation before getting down to the business of the day. Simply put you understand that love rests between the flowers in that small store, and you will return to it again and again.
Once a year that love spills over into the streets of this small city and reaches out to the neighboring communities as well. In 2004 Greg and Dorrie tragically lost their daughter to cancer. Lisa was a young woman whose physical beauty only mirrored the beauty she carried within her heart. I cannot begin to imagine or understand the grief of her parents and all those who loved her. Yet the glimmer of understanding I may have leaves me standing in awe of what Dorrie and Greg did next. The hole in their hearts did not long remain a place of darkness. Lisa'a love began to gently fill them with a flicker of light that eventually grew to radiate over miles. On the anniversary of Lisa'a death the doors to their shop as well as their hearts are thrown wide open to the hundreds of people who will enter them that day. Each and every one of those people will be given a dozen roses with one simple yet powerful request. Keep one rose for yourself and give the remaining eleven away. They ask that you pass on Lisa's love. And on that day there is magic and joy in the air as Lisa's love fills this small city and the neighboring communities one rose at a time...one person at a time.
Lisa's love is carried out into this corner of the world by people of every race, religion, and sexual orientation. The shop is in the heart of what was once a thriving steel mill town.
It is a city of diversity and has had its share of difficult times. Some of those difficulties were the result of economics as the steel industry declined leaving many without jobs. Some of those difficulties arose because of the diverse cultures which led to misunderstanding and conflict. Truth be told there are those who look down on the city and its residents. Its challenges are well known and well publicized. Little room is left for pretense, and therein lies this city's strength. Many of its residents share what is almost a raw honesty, and that leads to a clearer understanding. Understanding can then lead to acceptance and mutual respect. This shop not only lies in the heart of its city, it represents the heart of its city. You are likely to cross paths with people who sometimes struggle to simply keep moving, who carry the weight of burdens we cannot understand. Yet these same people find a way to make their corner of the world a better place with one rose at a time...with one person at a time.
Why was Lisa's Roses able to become such a remarkable movement in a city that struggles with its challenges on a daily basis? Perhaps because it was born from the heart and with love. Can you imagine what might happen if we each rose above our pain, misunderstandings, and challenges and worked to make our corner of the world better with one rose at a time...one person at a time? Why not try?
It is a city of diversity and has had its share of difficult times. Some of those difficulties were the result of economics as the steel industry declined leaving many without jobs. Some of those difficulties arose because of the diverse cultures which led to misunderstanding and conflict. Truth be told there are those who look down on the city and its residents. Its challenges are well known and well publicized. Little room is left for pretense, and therein lies this city's strength. Many of its residents share what is almost a raw honesty, and that leads to a clearer understanding. Understanding can then lead to acceptance and mutual respect. This shop not only lies in the heart of its city, it represents the heart of its city. You are likely to cross paths with people who sometimes struggle to simply keep moving, who carry the weight of burdens we cannot understand. Yet these same people find a way to make their corner of the world a better place with one rose at a time...with one person at a time.
Why was Lisa's Roses able to become such a remarkable movement in a city that struggles with its challenges on a daily basis? Perhaps because it was born from the heart and with love. Can you imagine what might happen if we each rose above our pain, misunderstandings, and challenges and worked to make our corner of the world better with one rose at a time...one person at a time? Why not try?
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