Fruit: the good, the bad, and the ugly.

Beware of false prophets who come disguised as harmless sheep but are really vicious wolves.  You can identify them by their fruit, that is, by the way they act. Can you pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? A good tree produces good fruit, and a bad tree produces bad fruit. A good tree can’t produce bad fruit, and a bad tree can’t produce good fruit. So every tree that does not produce good fruit is chopped down and thrown into the fire. Yes, just as you can identify a tree by its fruit, so you can identify people by their actions. Matthew 7:15-20 (NLT)

Trees were a big source of fun when I was little. Next door, in Grampa Kalisiewicz's yard, he had three huge pear trees and one apple tree. My little sister and I spent many hours up in those trees. The apple tree was a beautiful tree. It was the easiest tree for me to climb, so that's where I chose to be, most of the time. Unfortunately, that beautiful tree produced awful apples, so when I had a taste for something sweet, I would have to leave that tree, and head over to the pear tree. The fruit of the pear trees were delicious. I don't think I have ever tasted a pear quite as good as Grampa's since then. The last time I went home, I noticed that the trees weren't the same. As trees often do after many years, they had gotten warn out, and stopped producing pears in the same way that they used to.  Mom said she noticed the pears dwindling a few years back. She said the trees didn't look good, and then they stopped producing those sweet, delicious, juicy fruit.

In life, just as in nature, there is nothing more frustrating than being around a tree that looks good, but produces nasty fruit. It's such a disappointment, and even repulsive at times. Unfortunately, we don't always know what kind of tree we are dealing with until the fruit ripens. Often, there are signs that warn us that something is very wrong. Plagued leaves, rotten branches, attacking fungus. But once you know that your tree is bad, you don't expect much of it. Harder still is the once beautiful tree with near perfect fruit, that suddenly changes and becomes erratic. There is good fruit mixed in with the bad. You have to be very selective when choosing to consume what is being offered by this tree, and eventually it gets to be such a chore finding good fruit, that it's easier to just find another source. It's a case of a good tree gone bad, just like grampa's pears. It's a tree that you would rather avoid. Yes, you are aware of it, and it does produce some good fruit, but it is such a bother and not worth the time to sift through the rottenness to find something worth your effort. Mentally, this tree wears on us. We remember how good the tree once was, and every once in a while, we venture back to it, thinking that maybe, just maybe the tree has recovered. At first glance it looks promising, until we take a bite of the fruit, only to have to spit it out, and walk away disappointed.

I am thankful that we are able to see fruit for what it really is, and judge the tree by it's fruit. Ripe or rotten, it's unmistakable.  Being that there are orchards and orchards of trees out there, it behooves us to be selective. We need to be very careful what we choose to allow in our "garden", because it will either influence us positively or negatively, but make no mistake, it will definitely influence us. People love to say, "Judge not, lest you be judged", but here's one plain example of where God says it's good and right to judge. Not for the sake of condemning anyone, but for the purpose of protecting ourselves from bad influences. Thank you Lord for letting each fruits be seen, and guiding us every day on the path that leads to abundant life.

My Honey and I on Mother's Day! So thankful for my wondeful husband! Love you! 

Jonathan running home! 

My little slugger!

Unconditional Love

Hugs, hand prints, and homemade cards...kisses and coupons for more hugs, back rubs, helping hands with a smile. What a sweet Mother's Day! These days are like snowflakes...each one unique, never to be equaled. My boys are reaching an age where they have their own ideas, and they enjoy being creative. I love to see what comes out of their imaginations, without any help from anyone. To Josh, I am the "best Mom in the whole wide world", and Jonathan loves me "so so much" and he "loves me like a flower"...and with the way that boy loves flowers, that's saying a bunch!

Just as we have unconditional love for our children, they have the same love for us. I am definitely not a Supermom. I have moments when I yell, and probably exasperate my children with all my "pick up this" and "clean that", but there is no doubt in my childrens' minds that they are loved immensely. When it comes right down to it, even with the occasional craziness in our home, and the debates on what is acceptable for attitudes and actions, and after all is said and done, there is so much love. I am so very thankful that I had parents that were free to express their love towards me, and told me often that they were proud of me. I never felt like I was a burden on my parents, or in the way, even with all eight kids romping around. When I think back over the years as a child in my parents' home, the sweet, special times shine so bright in my memory. Sure, there were times of stress and conflict as there is in any home where people are close to each other, but those times have faded into an almost non-existent realm. I guess it's all in what we choose to remember, and being that there were innumerable good times, and only a handful of difficult ones, it's easy to dwell on the good!

For Mother's Day, I bought my husband a present, because if it weren't for him and the Lord, I wouldn't have the privilege of all this love that has been lavished on me! So I found this book entitled "Raising a Modern-Day Knight". It's a focus on the family book, and he's really enjoying it. Luis and I had a very different childhood. I firmly believe that his upbringing was very instrumental in bringing him to the feet of Jesus. The Lord knows our spirit, and knows what each of us need to experience to return to Him. His parents did the best they knew how to do, and he is thankful for them, and always knew that his parents loved him, even if they could not express it openly. They both had an alcohol problem, and fighting was the norm instead of the exception. He grew up with a lot of strife all around him, and felt "on his own" at an early age. I looked up the meaning of Luis's name on line the other day. Luis means "famous warrior", and Fernando means "daring, adventurous".   I'm sure his mother had no idea the meaning of her middle son's name, but it fits him perfectly. Luis has always had drive and motivation. He has always had an entrepreneurial spirit. He ran his own store out of his Mom's garage when he was young. At age 14, he ran away from home and travelled by train from his town in the mountains between Guadalajara and Puerta Vallarta, Mexico, all the way to Huntington Park, California where his Uncle Hector lived. As a mother, whenever I hear this story, my heart sinks. I can't imagine one of my children running off. In my limited thinking, I pray that never happens. But I realize fully that these "trips" to LA changed my husbands life forever, and made him the man, and the Christian that he is today. One of my favorite quotes is "Nothing is ever wasted". I have to remember when I pray for my children, not to pray for the easy life, or the problem free life, but to pray for the life that will bring them so very close to the Lord. That is NOT easy.

So this Mother's Day was wonderful and reflective. Thank you, Lord for the opportunity to raise the children you have given us. I know they are yours, first, and a special gift from you to my husband and I. Continue to teach us, Lord, how to raise our children so they will follow you sincerely, with their whole hearts. As much as I strive to be the perfect parent, I acknowledge that you, Lord, are the only perfect parent, and I lean on your wisdom, and strength. Thank you for giving me unconditional love, even when I didn't deserve it, and teaching me how to extend that unconditional love to my precious little ones.

Saturday at the park and Easter Sunday

Dr. Cadin would be proud!