Long ago, well about seven years ago, I planted a half dead pear tree at the wrong time of year. It had been on sale at the end of the planting season so the choices were small and trees in bad condition. It was a simply a stick with two leaves. I simply planted it in hope that it would some day bear fruit. I watered it faithfully for the first summer season and then promptly forgot it. It was at the bottom of the yard and outside our backyard fence (so the dogs wouldn’t be tempted to chew it up) We had two summers of incredible heat and drought. I had forgotten that it was even there. Every once in a while I would think about it and wonder if the kids  had mowed over it or if it was still there. I could see it was getting taller and in each Spring it would have a few  more leaves. I still wondered what was happening to it and would it bear fruit or be barren. This year we have PEARS! Only about 30 or so but it is growing and looks great! 
Evidently even neglected fruit trees bear fruit. My little thought this morning is that we and our children are much like this little pear tree. There are  great character qualities growing in them and us that we have planted that we never see until it is the right time, season or condition for them to show up. Those little forgotten twigs of hope, faith, kindness, love, gentleness; are there growing and leafing out. We just need to water them and encourage them to grow. We must not loose hope or think that they haven’t taken root.
Talk to you later,
Karen