A rose once fell onto a stone rock. The rose fused about the indignity of having fallen onto a lowly common stone of all places. The stone, asked the rose, Why do you think I am so lowly and common? What makes you so important? The rose, stunned that the stone would dare to talk to it, much less question it, answered the stone. Why, isnt it obvious? I am a beautiful rose, a creation of unmatched beauty! The world stops to smell me, to pick roses to give as tokens of love. I am representative of the language of love, beauty, and elegance. You are just an ordinary rock! The stone replied after amused moment, You are right, I am just a common rock. The world is full of rocks. Some are held in great beauty, others, not. Some are priceless, yet common ones not. However, I do have merits of my own. You cannot provide shelter, as I can. The bush you grew off feeds off minerals that leach off my surface. I have helped you to grow, and to become the beauty that you are now. The rose was taken back by this information. Well, I am still the rose, and more of worth than you. You may help to grow me, but I am here now and need not your help again! The stone was silent for a moment and reflected. You claim to not need me, and so let it be your choice. I will still be here when you have started to dry from the sun. I will still be here while you begin to drop your beautiful petals that the wind or insects will take away. I will still be here when your beauty has left you. I will still be here as you fade into nothing. I will still be here to comfort you as you turn back into the earth that you came from and are no more the rose. I will be here as you absorb into my body and become part of me. Will I still be so common then? Will you still think that the rose is so much better than the stone? If another rose falls onto us, will you think we are so lowly still? What will you say to the next rose? The rose didnt know what to say for awhile as it took it all in. Its word had always been focused on itself and not on anything else. I hope I will be more wisely as you have just taught me to be. I can only hope to join you and to have the time to nurture and watch other roses grow. I will hope to give back what you have given me. Not only have you given me nourishments, you have given me hope that I will continue and someday be part of a new rose. Yet, without you, I would have no chance at all. I have learned that things are not to be judged by what they are. You will still comfort me? I will, my rose child, replied the stone. There is beauty in a stone, even a common rock. There is beauty all around us in the world and beyond. Many tend to judge and not reflect that there is beauty in many different ways, not just in looks, but in strength, actions, uses, and being. Remember not to become as the rose was, and take time to admire the stones, not just the roses in life.