Gülü Seven Dikenine Katlanır (One Who Loves Roses Will Endure Thorns)

Gülü Seven Dikenine Katlanır One Who Loves Roses Will Endure Thorns

Since the beginning of time romantics and poets, ascetics and mystics have found a relationship between love and suffering. In idiomatic English we might say, “Every rose has its thorns.” Sure, Auntie Ayşe is cranky when she hasn’t had her nap, but we love her despite that. İstanbul traffic is a bear, but we deal with it because this is such an amazing city to live in. Roses, little thorns. No big deal. The comparable Turkish phrase takes this idea to an even more personal level, Gülü seven dikenine katlanır, “One who loves roses will endure thorns.” Love covers a multitude of “thorns”—even big ones. This seems so apt to us this Christmas season, as we contemplate the birth of Jesus, İsa Mesih. Even from his first day on earth he endured a lot-- for us! And we are probably more like thistles than roses, even on our best day.

Merry Christmas, dear friends.
İyi Noeller!