"Riley Rose"

The Alyssa "Riley Rose" is white, sometimes pale pink, and is sometimes called the Japanese Rose because it mostly grows in Japan. It also grows in Riley, Kansas. It grows in the pastures and the fields of Riley, Kansas. It has a thorny stem so it used for borders and hedges to protect the animals and the wildlife. It has a very sweet fragrance. Sometimes the "Riley Rose" is a single flower and sometimes it grows in clusters. So much so like our Alyssa Riley, my second granddaughter. Daughter of my daughter. She loves pink. She wears pink. She has an older sister but she is also her very own unique little girl.


She is so much like her mother when she was a little girl but also so much like me. It continually amazes me how our God designs each one of us just the way He wants us to be. She loves animals. Imagine a rose that is planted especially for the animals. She calls herself the animal angel. The color white is very becoming to an angel. Alyssa who is compassionate and full of mercy. An angel herself carrying the sweet fragrance of her compassion wherever she goes.

Her name means Truthful and Courageous. The Mother Goose Rhyme says Tuesday's Child is full of Grace. And, of course, alyssum is a flower of sweet fragrance. The scripture verse I pray for her is II Corinthians 2:14 - "But thanks be to God who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of Him." She is God's fragrant flower and mine too. She is truthful, courageous and full of grace and mercy, a delight to the Lord. I am so glad there is a rose named for this very special unique little girl who loves animals.