Today I am thankful for the seasons. How appropriate that we would have Spring, Summer, Winter and Fall. When I think of the seasons I think of the trees and a story my dad used to tell me.
There is a Native American story of a chief that had 4 sons. His sons were very impatient and reckless. He wanted to show them the meaning of life, that patience is important and to not 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, and fulfillment of your fall.
I am thankful for the seasons in life and the wonderful examples God gave us to look at. Pay attention, be patient and don’t judge too quickly, but most of all enjoy each season as it comes.
Cherry Coley (c)
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SpilledCookies 
That actually made me cry! I feel like last year was my winter and I have been coming up on spring and summer the past several months. This was a great post that really puts things into perspective. Most people do give up before things have had a chance to come full circle. I have learned in my old age to be patient – and I am looking forward to that fulfillment of fall 🙂
i have heard this story many times but it never fail to move me everytime
Me too! I love this story
Wonderful story. Only God knows the sum total of a person’s life. We can never be reminded too much not to judge hastily or harshly.
Have a wonderful Thanksgiving.
Thank you! Hope you had a great Thanksgiving!
How very true!
Reblogged this on weepingintodancing and commented:
This post tells a wonderful story about the seasons in our life. It is worth a read and I hope you found it as encouraging and beautiful as I did. I will further add that we a have spiritual seasons and that they are all of great value. In the end of our days, it will be the culminations of our many seasons and years that will be our witness and testimony. Learn from each season and do not despise the winters as they are necessary for the growth in all the other seasons.
Thank you for this post. I liked it so much I reblogged it to
http://weepingintodancing.wordpress.com/
Blessings to you!
Thank you so much!!
Thank you!
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Great story
Thank you