Love one Another Day #2

Love One Another Day #2

Part of today's lesson comes from Jodi at Pleasant Home.com. She writes a darling blog full of fun sewing, quilting, and crafting ideas.  She is very talented and has a fun story why her blog is called Pleasant Home.  Her darling summer quilt will be featured on the cover of "Quilt-It" in the spring.  Check out her blog to find out more about her and her cute projects!

Attention Activity:
Take your family on a walk through your neighborhood or the park.  Have them notice all the trees and how they look.  Here in Southern California, there are trees with blossoms, trees that still look like winter and trees that already have their leaves.  Ask your children lots of questions about trees, leaves, seasons, and fruit.

Story:

The Parable of the Pear Tree

Click HERE to for this printable version of this story:

There was a man who had four sons

He wanted his sons to learn a valuable lesson - so he sent them each on a quest.

In turn, to go and observe a single Pear Tree

Each son traveled to the Pear Tree, each son in a different Season...

The first son traveled to see the tree in the Winter

The second son in Spring

The third son in Summer

The fourth son in Fall

When they had all returned from their travels, he called them together to each describe what they had seen...

The first son said the tree was ugly, bent, old and gnarled. Not much use to anyone...

The second son said it was covered in green buds and full of promise...

The third son disagreed; he said it was full of blossoms that smelled so sweet and looked so beautiful. The tree was the most graceful thing he'd ever seen....

The last son disagreed with all of them. He said it was ripe and dropping with fruit. Full of life and fulfillment...

The father then explained to his sons that they were each right, because each had witnessed only one Season in the tree's life

He told them you cannot judge a tree or a person by only one season...

Not all things are possible in all seasons.  Joy comes from recognizing and appreciating the challenges and opportunities in each Season of Life...

Scripture and Discussion

• "Man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart." (1 Sam 16:7 )

• "A  new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another."  (John 13:34)
  

Use these two scriptures to discuss how we can apply the Parable of the Pear tree to how Jeasus wants us to treat others.  Look in the scriptures for other examples of how Jesus loved others.

Treat/Activity
I found this recipe for Pear Bread on SmittenKitchn.com. I thought it would be fun to make it with the family.

Handout:

 

Download this handout HERE.

 

Download this handout HERE.

 Journal Activity:  

Take some time to have everyone write in their journals. Write ways they can show love for others and how to look on the heart and not the outward appearance.