Spring another season in life

I read recently of a man who had four sons and he sent his sons out one by one to go and look at the same pear tree. One he sent out in winter, one in spring, one in the summer and one in the autumn.

All four came back to their father and described what they had seen. The first said it wasn’t a very attractive sight, it was bent and twisted.

The second son disagreed he said no the tree showed much promise covered in green buds.

The third said no the tree looked beautiful it was covered in blossom.

The fourth said the tree was laden with pears, it’s branches were bending under the weigh and some of the fruit had fallen off.

Four different pictures of the same tree, and it is very similar to life, we have one life, but it can have different seasons.

For many the tree in winter, describes the way their life is at present, not a happy place to be. Long dark nights with very little to look forward to. The cold winds of difficulty blow and make it into a difficult time.

For others the season is spring time, good things are happening, new life all around, a time of promise and hope, things to look forward to.

The tree in full bloom and so attractive to look at, so colourful and brightens up any garden. For many that sums up their season in life, when everything in going well, the job, the family, looking forward to a summer holiday, yes a good time to be enjoyed.

In autumn the tree begins to loose it’s fully ripened fruit. So often autumn is a time that people find themselves in. It is again a time of change, children grown up and left, working life nearing it’s end, the sad times of saying goodbye to parents. Autumn so often identified with the older end of life.

One life and four different ways of experiencing it. A hymn written many years ago speaks of God’s faithfulness to us, he reminds us, “summer and winter and springtime and harvest..” God remains faithful to us, in all the seasons of life which come and go, the faithfulness of God never changes. But what does God know about my seasons of life? Well when He came to earth, Jesus experienced many of the things we experience in this life, He does understand. What ever the season God is only a prayer away and will help, for He is our faithful creator God.