Peaches and Thorns

Facing a time of uncertainty, Sheri Wohlfert considers the need to plant seeds that will bear good fruit for the future.

He said in reply, “He who sows good seed is the Son of Man.” (Matthew 13:37)

With everything swirling around in the world today it’s easy to get overwhelmed. As I think of going back to school next month, I wonder what that will look like. When I talk to parents, I feel the uncertainty and concern bubble up into the conversation. I don’t have any answers, but I do know that the Father will bring us out on the other side of all this and we will all be OK!

I saw this little story the other day and it reminded me that we are in the middle of making some history. This whole pandemic … this whole weird season of our lives … will be remembered. The how is the important part … how we will remember it and how history will remember the way we lived through it. That made me think.

A man was watching his 80-year-old neighbor planting a small peach tree. He inquired of him, “You don’t expect to eat peaches from that tree, do you?” 

The old man rested on his spade. He replied, “No, at my age I know I won’t. But all my life I have enjoyed peaches -- never from a tree I planted myself. I’m just trying to pay the other fellows who planted the trees for me.” 

I don’t know how any of this started … I don’t know how any of this will end, but one thing is for sure, our attitude, our actions and our prayers will have an impact on our children, our grandchildren and the folks who remember all of this. So I guess the question is: Am I going to plant peach trees or thorn bushes? Both will last and both will be noticed for a long time to come, but only one bears a desirable fruit that brings good.

History is full of great, simple, faithful people who weathered storms and tragedy and chaos I can’t even begin to imagine. When I hear their stories, I am inspired by their faith, their determination, their strength, and their perseverance. Those who lived through war and economic disaster and telegrams of lost sons in war bore a burden that hurts my heart to think about, but most of them planted peaches -- and when I read about their lives I’m filled with hope.

“I don’t know” seem to be the most frequently used words in my vocabulary these days, and I suppose it’s time I remember what I DO know:

I DO know that the Father loves us.

I DO know I will teach and children will laugh and learn and succeed and stumble and I will be blessed to watch it all!

I DO know gratitude, trust, compassion, mercy, and kindness are running shorter than fear, doubt, arguing, blame, and dishonesty these days.

I suppose we could think of the first five as peaches and the second five as thorns. I think I’ll get busy “planting peach trees” so my students and children and grandchildren will have something good to enjoy beyond all this craziness.

A Seed To Plant: Spend some time in prayer thinking of ways you can trade thorn bushes for peach trees.

Blessings on your day!

Get busy planting peach trees so future generations will have something good to enjoy. #catholicmom

Copyright 2020 Sheri Wohlfert
Image: Pixabay (2018)