Once upon a time...

Far far away in Pearie Land, there was a man who had four sons. He sent them each on a quest, to go in turns, to take a look at a particular pear tree. This pear tree isn't magical, nor is it unique. But it stands out in its own way. A very distinguish way indeed.

He sent the eldest son in the winter.

The second one went in spring.

While the third headed off in summer.

And the youngest son, in fall/autumn.

When the four of them had all gone and came back, he called them together to the meeting room, to describe what they had seen from the quest they were sent on separately.

The first son said, "The tree was ugly, bent, and twisted."

The second son said, "No, it was covered with green buds and full of promise."

The third son disagreed & said, "It was the most graceful thing I've ever seen.
It was laden with blossoms that smelled so sweet and looked so beautiful."

The last son disagreed with all of them while he said,
"It was ripe and drooping with fruit, full of life and fulfillment."

The man then explained to his sons that they were all correct, because they had each seen but only one season in the tree's life. He told them that you cannot judge a tree, or a person, by only one season, and that the essence of who they are and the pleasure, joy, and love that come from that life can only be measured at the end, when all the seasons are up.

If you give up when it's winter, you will miss the promise of your spring,
the beauty of your summer, as well as the fulfillment of your fall.

Don't let the pain of one season destroy the joy of all the rest. Don't judge life by one difficult season. Persevere through the difficult patches, and better times are sure to come some time or later. =)

*credits to Michelle Ng*