There was a man who had four sons. 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.
The second son said no it was covered with green buds and full of promise.
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. The last son disagreed with all of them; he said it was ripe
and drooping with fruit, full of life and fulfillment.
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, 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. Don't let the pain
of one season destroy the joy of all the rest. Don't judge life by one
difficult season.
Persevere through the difficult patches and better times are sure to
come Some time
Live Simply
Love Generously
Care Deeply
Speak Kindly
Leave the Rest to God
Aspire to Inspire
Before You Expire
