A Few of FR's Finest....Every Day....12-29-05....The Pear Tree: Lessons in Life

DollyCali | December 29, 2005 | DollyCali

[DollyCali]

A Few of FR's Finest....Every Day

Free Republic made its debut in September, 1996, and the forum was added in early 1997.   Over 100,000 people have registered for posting privileges on Free Republic, and the forum is read daily by tens of thousands of concerned citizens and patriots from all around the country and the world.

A Few of FR's Finest....Every Day was introduced on June 24, 2002. It's only a small room in JimRob's house where we can get to know one another a little better; salute and support our military and our leaders; pray for those in need; and congratulate those deserving. We strive to keep our threads entertaining, fun, and pleasing to look at, and often have guest writers contribute an essay, or a profile of another FReeper.

On Mondays please visit us to see photos of A FEW OF FR'S VETERANS AND ACTIVE MILITARY

If you have a suggestion, or an idea, or if there's a FReeper you would like to see featured, please drop one of us a note in FR mail.

We're having fun and hope you are!
~ Billie, Dutchess, DollyCali, Mama_Bear, GodBlessUSA ~

The Pear Tree

Day’s End, Year’s End, Life’s End
Lessons in Life

There was a man who had four sons. They were all different and he wanted his sons to learn not to judge things too quickly. So he sent them each on a quest, in turn, to go and look at a pear tree that was a great distance away.

The first son went in the winter, the second in the spring, the third in summer, and the youngest son in the fall.

When they had all gone and come back, he called them together to describe what they had seen.

The first son said that the tree was ugly, bent, and twisted. It looked dead. The harsh winter showed the bare bones existence of a difficult time, where little was nice & all around was cold & painful,

The second son said no it was covered with green buds and full of promise. The warmth of sunshine & new life was unfolding but the ground around was muddy & dirty. Some of the surrounding trees did not survive the harsh winter.

The third son disagreed; he said it was laden with blossoms that smelled so sweet and looked so beautiful, it was the most graceful thing he had ever seen, it was surrounded with beauty and there was a rich carpet of soft emeralds underneath the boughs. The dead trees around had been removed & just beauty was there.

The last son disagreed with all of them; he said it was ripe and drooping with fruit, full of life and fulfillment. There were people around enjoy the bounty.. So much bounty that some was rotting on the ground below giving off fermenting odors. The tree was giving to all who wanted but some of the leaves were already falling & brown. It seemed perhaps the tree was dying.

The man then explained to his sons that they were all right, because they had each seen but only one season in the tree's life.

He told them that you cannot judge a tree, or a person, by only one season/one event/one time, and that the essence of who they are and the pleasure, joy, and love that come from that life can only be measured at the end, when all the seasons are up.

If you give up when it's winter, you will miss the promise of your spring, the beauty of your summer, fulfillment of your fall.

resulting lessons:

Don't let the pain of one season destroy the joy of all the rest. Don’t let the pain of one event cloud the present joys available. Therefore don't judge life by one difficult season.

Persevere through the difficult patches and better times are sure to come some time or later. Don’t judge a person by some things that are out of your comfort zone.

Look at the whole picture of the person. See the spring, summer, fall and winter of this person to see them as God does. Respond to them as God does. Love them as God does.

Understand that the “tickling of your comfort zone” is God’s way of helping you grow as a person

In the year ahead look to yourself to have more patience, more compassion, more forgiveness, more joy, more godliness. Let your life be the tree of beauty, promise & bounty. The tree that will produce fruit.

The end of a day, the end of a year, the end of a life are all milestones & all can be measured. Try to see them each through the eyes of your creator and live them in a worthy manner.

Ecclesiastes 3 -- A Time for Everything

1 There is a time for everything,
and a season for every activity under heaven:

2 a time to be born and a time to die,
a time to plant and a time to uproot,

3 a time to kill and a time to heal,
a time to tear down and a time to build,

4 a time to weep and a time to laugh,
a time to mourn and a time to dance,

5 a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,
a time to embrace and a time to refrain,

6 a time to search and a time to give up,
a time to keep and a time to throw away,

7 a time to tear and a time to mend,
a time to be silent and a time to speak,

8 a time to love and a time to hate,
a time for war and a time for peace.

12-28-05 ~ Hall of Fame #14

Click on the photo to view the album. To submit your photo, please contact dansangel or .45Man at danbh59@yahoo.com and include Freeper Photo Album in subject line.

Opinions by our own 'King of Ping' Every Thursday at the Finest The guy's good, folks!

[DollyCali]

Yes, there were a few images in there that I thought might be troublesome for little ones. The movie Zathura that I saw last night was the same way.. but it was a PG13.. I at first thought it was PG & was thinking during movie.. man, they sure are strange ratings lately!

lol.

[DollyCali]

Jump into Midnight.. what a funny tradition. I have a confession of sorts to make. When I fist came to help my mom here after dad died before I went to Houston, she had a 2nd cousin from Czechoslovakia living with her to earn money to take back to family. He was here w/mom about a year.

He was here New years time frame & I had my girlfriend Patty over (from jr high) we spent night giggling & doing girl stuff. We decided to do a facial mint julep masque. He saw us & had never seen this before & inquired. We(me actually) told him it was an American good luck tradition. You put it on & kept it on for one hour after year changed. Well, he did it & we all looked silly together. Mom thought we were terrible.

Well, he earned a lot of money doing handy man things & went back to his family.. so I guess it WAS good luck for him!

[lonestar]

That looks like Rainbow Bridge! So pretty!

Weinie

[DollyCali]

I never thought about that lonestar.. you are so right.. it could be. Might add a rainbow along the line in one of them... huh? how are you doing? any more progress in post hurricane homestead?

[DollyCali]

It really has been nice to have you with us today daisy.. you have added some good thoughts /graphics.. My dad was a daisy fan & by the mail box had a slew of wild daisys blooming. When he died one of the neighbors asked if I was going to now pull out all those "weeds".

I just stared at him & that spring enlarged it, put in MORE of the same white wild ones & then added a slew of other wild type daisys. and fertilized them! I also NEVER take out the dandelions near his side.. (nasty aren't I?)

This is my nasty neighbor who does BAD things to my & other neighbor pets. (of course can never prove it.. but we all know)..

[DollyCali]

Love & Blessings to you in 2006 also Peach.. thanks for stopping by!

[EsmeraldaA]

Hello.
There is nothing settled for the weekend yet.....hehe he

I am ready for the Mimosas though. LOL!

[DollyCali]

I have never had a mimosa.. that is champaign & what??????? orange juice?

[DollyCali]

May the Lord of great love and of creation keep the men and women of our military in His loving and eternal care. May the families be immersed with peace and comfort as they proudly know their loved ones are giving their best for the things that are dear to all of us. AMEN

Below are names of some of our FReepers' loved ones who are serving our country. If you have someone you would like to add, please address a post to Billie; Mama_Bear; Dutchess; The Mayor; GodBlessUSA; DollyCali, and we will add their name to this list. As we pray for them, we pray also for all our nation’s leaders, and military personnel, and their families and friends. May God hold them close to His heart.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

gator girl........................husband severa............husband, brother Maigrey............................cousin mystery-ak.............son, husband Gogrammy...................grandson Inspectorette.......................son Blessed American..........nephew Slip18..........................nephew Diver Dave.......niece, nephew ConspiracyGuy........2 nephews Pippin............niece's husband sneakers..............................son weldgophardline.....brotherinlaw jamaly.................brotherinlaw Future Snake Eater..........cousin WaterDragon.............grandson WaterDragon...........son-in-law BeforeISleep...................son kimmie7......................brother Armymarinemom............3 sons american_ranger.............son LadyX.........................grandson fawn796.......................nephew ValerieUSA....................2 sons Lakeside........................2 sons LakeLady......................nephew Spruce.........................daughter Leofl......................................son chena......................................son Hope and Glory..................son Philman_36..............2 nephews bjcintennessee.......son, niece TheMayor...............friends'son homeschoolmama...........nephew ariamne...................2 cousins mhking.........................cousin visualops..........................cousin auboy.............................cousin Ladysmith..nephew, friend's son tina07......soninlaw & his friend MontanaCowgirlCop.......brother Misty4jc........................husband Colorado Slim................nephew Tapatio....................2 nephews ProudAFDad............................son Alouette................................son Katydidnt..............................son Q6-God...................twin brother Q6-God.....................active duty Warrior Nurse...........active duty SK1 Thurman...........active duty David Osborne.........active duty fc2tomschermuly......active duty bkwells....................active duty LongCut....................active duty cjk...........................active duty Trish.........................active duty ODC-GIRL.................active duty AF_Blue...................active duty Notwithstanding.......active duty thumperusn..............active duty Veloxherc.................active duty Don Simmons...........active duty wingnutx...................active duty Old Sarge.................active duty CGblue.....................active duty bigghurtt...................active duty frankiep....................active duty veeceeque................active duty JRios1968...............active duty NoLongerFreeState....active duty wolf creek………….daughter JesseJane ............ cousin SoldiersPrayingMom...............son WakeUpandVote...........brother kimmykay ……….son mrs tiggywinkle............cousin cyber ant……...nephew

scubachick.....................husband OhioWfan................................son ladtx..................................2 MozartLover...........son, nephew ak_daddoo........................nephew Dubya............................nephew LBGA (RIP)..........................son katykelly..............................son cookcounty.............................son SpookBrat........................nephew SpookBrat........................cousin Doug from Upland............soninlaw Himyar....................................son boxerblues........................2 sons the piper....................................son sheeza................................husband kemathen7.........................husband Tiffee4Bob..........................boyfriend deadhead.............................cousin JimRobinson...............2 nephews TexKat.......................son, step-son StarCMC.............................brother Consort........................2 daughters Consort.......................son-in-law Darheel...............................niece Repubmom………….son Donaeus...........................nephew dixie sass........................nephew BeAllYouCanBe........................son Repubmommy........................brother AgThorn................................2 sons kneezles.................................son RoseinRoseBear.....cousin's hubby Atomic Conspiracy......half-brother Atomic Conspiracy...........nephew Atomic Conspiracy..............niece Sunflowergal....................grandson DollyCali……….friend JohnMike mrstank..............................husband MrsMike31........................husband Rose0508.….son spotbust1............................husband campfollower............................fiance LUV W........................................son painter...................................nephew Bykrbayb........................................son SilentServiceCPOWife........husband Walkenfree................2 grandsons Walkenfree.................. 3 nephews Walkenfree..................granddaughter Zechariah_8_13.......brother-in-law Zechariah_8_13.......................cousin DirtyHarryY2K......................daughter DirtyHarryY2K................son-in-law nelibeli...................................nephew Skimask.....................................son El Gato...............................nephew Palladin...............................grandson MississippyMuddy...................sister MississippyMuddy.....2 nephews Kramster...............................stepson gonzo.........................friend's son Socratic.............................nephew jkphoto...............................nephew LoneRedRanger......brother-in-law Jemian...................................son freema....................nephew, son Azbushgal..............................son PreviouslyA-Lurker...........brother kimmykay.................................son right2parent..............................son NavySEAL F-16........................son Ike............................................son Skyraider.......... Son CMS............. active duty. Jen's Mom.....................daughter Meg33...........................grandson 911angelady.....................2 Sons

[Peach]

We just finished watching the movie Must Love Dogs, Dolly. It was very cute and even Mr. P liked it. Some funny one liners and appealing characters.

[DollyCali]

Mimosas

This classic breakfast beverage is a fantastic way to start your day. If the thought of having alcohol early in the morning is not to your liking, choose a sparkling grape juice and omit the liqueur. It is fantastic either way.

4 ounces chilled freshly squeezed orange juice
2 tablespoons orange liqueur
12 ounces chilled Champagne

Chill two large champagne flutes or goblets. Mix 2 ounces orange juice and 1 tablespoon liqueur in each glass. Slowly pour half of the champagne into each glass and serve immediately.

Makes 2 servings.

Preparation Time: 5 minutes
Total Time: 5 minutes

[EsmeraldaA]

Yes, orange juice. We like them with freshly squeezed oranges......nice.

[EsmeraldaA]

Trust me ....you don't want to add anything more than the orange juice!

[DollyCali]

That was a cute, light movie.. I have enjoyed this years offerings of moives despite all the negative talk regarding them. some better than others, for sure, but most to me well worth the time

[DollyCali]

you mean, omit the orange liqueur? triple sec? I may have YEARS ago had one at a wedding or maybe at Hilton Head..

[EsmeraldaA]

Yes, exactly!
It is also the way they serve them on a wedding or a brunch at a fancy place.

[Peach]

I just came back in here, Dolly, after realizing that my mentioning that movie may have caused you pain. You know, my friend, that was not my intent at all. I know that you like movies and dogs and thought of you as I watched it.

We also want to see the remake of Yours, Mine and Ours, although we liked the original so much, we aren't sure the newer version can stand on its own.

[DollyCali]

no.. your comments were NOT a problem. The problems are more in my mind/memory. Movies are a great release for me. I have gone a lot more for the past few weeks. (and I used to go 2-3 times a week prior)

One of my favorite movies - The Patriot has the funny dog scene. recall it? of course Mel adds "a little" to the flick .. .

[Kitty Mittens]

That is Lovely, (((((((Amy!)))))))

I've So Enjoyed the Graphics you've Been Posting, (((((((Meg!)))))))

[JustAmy]

Thank you, Kitty Mittens.

I enjoy posting these tables but cannot always take the time.

Hope you've had a terrific Thursday.