For those dear moms who’ve read and told many a bedtime story, here’s one for you:

There once was a man who had four sons. He wanted them to learn to not judge things too quickly, so he sent them each on a quest to go and look at a pear tree that was a great distance away.

He sent his first son in the winter, his second in the spring, his third in summer and his youngest 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.

After hearing all his son’s responses, the wise father replied, “Sons, you are all right — because you have each seen only one season in the tree’s life. But you cannot judge a tree, a situation or a person in your life by only one season.  Most things can only be measured at the end, when all the seasons have come to pass.”

Dear Moms ~

I know that the seasons of raising children can be very demanding and sometimes draining. For some of you moms, life right now is very, very hard. My heart goes out to you as I know the cry of your mother’s heart to be a good mom while the burdens you carry may be heavy.

I’m praying that this story offers you hope. You are yet in just one season with your family. Things will look VERY different when “all the seasons have come to pass.” God WILL continue to do His work within your children (and within you too!) - He isn’t finished yet! I know that He is very pleased to have a willing mother to work through.

When life is uncertain (which it actually always is, it’s just sometimes that we fully realize it) we have to go back to the things that we know for sure:

1) God IS good. He will never leave or forsake us.

2) We are His. So just as we take on the problems of our children, He takes on ours.

3) Our children and their unique design is not a mistake. He’s designed them, they too are His and He does have a good plan for them.

4) We have been given the authority by the one and only Sovereign God of the universe to speak into the spiritual on behalf of our children. Claim His promises and blessings and pray on behalf of your children.

5) Friends can pray you through difficult seasons. If you need prayer, ask for it. Ask a trusted friend, someone you admire who you can tell has been walking with the Lord, call a church and ask if someone could pray for you or email me - I’d love to pray for you! My email address is cathy@thumbpeople.com.

And always take comfort in God’s Word and His promise to you:
“I will be your God throughout your lifetime - until your hair is white with age. I made you, and I will care for you. I will carry you along and save you.” Isaiah 46:4

Be encouraged - Cathy