There once was a man who had four young sons.

He wanted to teach each of them about the dangers of judging things too rapidly before seeing all aspects of a situation. So, he decided to send each of them on a journey, one after the other, to view and observe a distant pear tree.

Each son traveled in a different season…the first in Winter, the second in Spring, the third son in the Summer, and the fourth in the Fall.

At the end of the year he brought his children together and asked them about what they had seen and observed.

The son who had travelled in the Winter described a gnarled, twisted, and barren tree that stood stark and ugly against the land.

The son who went in the Spring disagreed completely. He commented that the tree seemed full of hope and promise, with many green buds along its branches.

The third son, who travelled in the Summer, described the pear tree he had seen as covered with beautiful blossoms that looked and smelled divine.

Finally, the fourth and last son, who made the journey in the Fall, was even more elated. He described a tree laden with sweet and delicious pears that tasted better than any he had ever eaten before.

After each son had spoken, the father said they were actually all correct…because each had only seen but one season in the pear tree’s life. He told his sons that it is foolish and impossible to make wise and fair judgments in this manner.

He further explained that the essence of something, whether it’s a tree or their fellow man, can only be measured as a whole, at the end of a year, having seen it in all its development and fullness.

To make a negative judgment in Winter is to miss the promise of Spring, the beauty of Summer, and the delicious fruit of Fall.

Moral of the story:  Refuse to judge yourself, life, or other people based upon a single mistake or challenging time. Refuse to let the pain of one season destroy the joy of what is to come in the future.

- Author Unknown

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Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect."   Romans 12:2 NLT

Do not judge by the outward appearance, but judge with righteous judgment . John 7:24 NASB

For everything there is a season, a time for every activity under heaven. Ecclesiastes 3:1 NLT

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