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

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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!

[Iowa Granny]

They understand what Bobby Knight meant when he said, “The will to succeed is important, but what's more important is the will to prepare.”

Did he say this immediately before OR immediately AFTER he threw the chair?

[DollyCali]

(before)

heheehe

[Kitty Mittens]

I am Feeling Stronger than I have in Many Months, and I'm So Thankful to our Lord for it.

I Pray you and your Dad are Holding Up Well, as you Go Through this Difficult Season of Life. You are a Kind and Dear person, and my Life is Made Brighter by Knowing you.

[MEG33]

I loved your seasons pictures and the message. Thank You!

[EsmeraldaA]

Hello Miss Dolly!
Thank you for my ping, I feel honored...



We're getting very close to the new year now.
That is always exciting (has to be).

Your table is beautiful of course!

[dixie sass]

What a beautiful thread.

[Gucho]

Thanks for the ping DC and a great post.

[daisyscarlett]

Thanks for sharing the photo of the lovely daisies your friend sent you...as you may guess, I am partial to daisy's, lol.

I am also very partial to cacti and succulents and am curious about the succulent in the background...Is it real? Succulents in England, now that is a talent to keep them alive in your climate, I would think.

I am sorry for your loss and hope you and your Dad are doing better. I lost my Mom in December 5 years ago. It hurt so bad but now I have sweet memories that overcloud the hurt...

[MEG33]

Spring will come even where conditions are harsh.

[daisyscarlett]

Early birthday greetings to you and your twin....Excuse the maudlin message. You, of all people, appreciate every day that God gives you. But sometimes I see people complaining about "another birthday" (mea culpa) and this is for me and them...

[daisyscarlett]

a shrimp cocktail made with those twelve to the pound shrimps,

Mr. D. and I have been staying in for the past several years and love to pig out on appetizers etc. Shrimp is my favorite but we will also have king crab legs (on special this week). Don't start eating till 4 p.m. though. And I really do want to stay up to see the return of Dick Clark.

On New Year's Day, we watch the parades and football, although that won't happen till Monday this year. We also eat black-eyed peas, greens and cornbread on New Year's Day for "good luck" and lots of money with the peas for change and the greens for bills).

[daisyscarlett]

Thanks Billie...how did your Pecan cake turn out with the raspberry sauce? Mine was great...I made the frosting Amy suggested and took lots of photos which I hope to post on Amy's thread eventually...will ping you to it when I do...

[daisyscarlett]

Well, IMO, you made an excellent choice when you went with the snowflakes...

[JustAmy]

Absolutely beautiful, Dolly.
Thank you for bringing us the story of the Pear Tree.
I love your table and the photos are wonderful.

[JustAmy]

Happy Thursday, Daisy.

I do hope that you post some pictures of Aquamarine's Hazelnut/Pecan cake.

I hate to admit that I served cake and pies that came from Costco. I just ran out of time.

My hubby loves hazelnuts so I will get some and try that recipe later. Maybe for his birthday. :)

It is so good to see you visiting us again. I've missed you.

[jtill]

Dolly, thank you for the "ping".

Your Lessons in Life are right on and the graphics are outstanding. I really appreciate your thinking of me.

Prayers for a happy, healthy, prosperous New Year!

[Billie]

...how did your Pecan cake turn out with the raspberry sauce?

Actually, we haven't eaten it yet, but it looks beautiful. I have it in the freezer, along with the fresh raspberry sauce I made, and whipping cream is ready to be whipped to go with it. The Christmas dinner I always have on Christmas Day was postponed because too many were sick last weekend, and we're having it this weekend (on Sunday) instead. I have most everything already cooked and in the freezer. Just have to marinate the tenderloins overnight Saturday, and Mr. B will cookk them on the grill Sunday.

Do ping me to your pictures!

[GretchenM]

Breathtaking photo essay of the seasons and how they affect our perceptions. Thanks.

[Billie]

How pretty that picture is!

[Billie]

Your tables are gorgeous, especially with that picture!