I am making apple butter. I pace between my cast iron pot full of gently bubbling, copper colored puree’ and my computer, enjoying the silence the wee hours of the night offer to me. My mind drifts between shopping lists and prayers and everything in between, but most times it seems to focus on apple butter and my children.
Tonight I am preoccupied with how my children - my fruits - are faring in the world. Are they doing well enough in school? Are they growing in holiness? Where have I failed them and what legacies will I leave to them? Will Our Lord see them as fruits of my labor? Or will they grow up to be spiritually sterile?
Yes, things get pretty profound in my home at 2:00am. But when else do I have the time to actually think these things through?
I stir the apple butter, and my mind turns to how it has come to be. I brought the apples home. Washed, peeled and sliced them, removed the pit, and finely chopped them almost to a pulp. And although they were plenty sweet on their own, I added sugar in case they took on a slightly bitter taste as they simmered. Cinnamon, ginger and cloves mingled in their juices, turning the light sunny pulp into vivid liquid copper.
The fire was intense at first, to bring the juices to a boil, steaming off the water and intensifying the flavors hidden within. But then I turn it down and let it simmer. I stir it from time to time, to keep the bottom layer from scorching and to continue to release more steam. Hours pass. I remain close to the stove, watching for signs of thickening or scorching, and test it from time to time to see if I should season it a little more.
And it suddenly hits me. Motherhood is rather like making apple butter, is it not? It is not enough for us to simply be fruitful and multiply. We need to take these fruits - our children - and over the years apply generous amounts of both love and discipline, sugar and heat, to bring out that which most resembles God within them. We simmer them for many years, stirring and seasoning them until they are ready to stand firmly on their own, preserving the faith in them for yet another generation to relish.
Almost through now. Most of the water has evaporated off, and the spices are perfectly infused. I scoop up a spoonful of fruit. Does it keep its form and stand tall, or does it ooze off the sides and conform to the concave shape of the ladle? If I have done my job right, the apple butter will be sweet and smooth as silk but thick enough to retain its shape if mounded on the spoon.
Success! I measure out the apple butter, dispersing it among half a dozen jelly jars. All my preparations have led me up to this moment, and I have reached the point where I must let go. I gently lower them into the boiling water canner and close the lid. Will the jars crack? Will they leak or take on the viciously boiling water surrounding them? Or will they, tried by fire, continue to be purified – perfected?
I pace a little, as it is completely out of my hands now. I can watch, I can pray this batch of apple butter will be preserved. But once the timer goes off, there is nothing more I can do.
I have prepped and prepared these fruits. And one day, I will have to send them off on their own, to either persevere in the faith, preserved in purity for their Heavenly home, or collapse under the pressure and become another indistinct ingredient of the worldly domain.
The words of St. John Mary Vianney suddenly come to mind and I ponder the odds of my children being saved. “The number of the saved is as few as the number of grapes left after the vineyard-pickers have passed. “ O Lord, what more must I do to preserve these fruits for you?
Time is up. Each jar has been removed from the raging water and set on the cooling rack.
I hold my breath.
The moment of truth is upon me.
I listen for that tiny pop, that reassuring little ping that proves that all the work that went into the apple butter will be preserved. One, two, three jars are sealed almost immediately. Four and five follow suit soon after. I busy myself in the kitchen, cleaning up the mess, all the time eyeing the last jar.
Will it pop?
It does not.
Somehow, these jars of apple butter have come to represent my children to me and I fret over the jar that has not sealed and thus will not be preserved. After all, the odds of a soul gaining Heaven are far bleaker than the odds of a jar of apple butter being sealed. What does this mean?
I resist the urge to just press the center of the lid myself, to force it to seal. But no amount of force or wishful thinking will preserve this fruit. I crawl into bed, full of wondering. Was it something I did? Something I didn’t do? Or was there some flaw in the jar or the lid that was beyond my control?
Mothers, our time with our children is short. Despite what the world tells us, Heaven is not for the many, but the few. What have we done to preserve the purity of the fruits He has entrusted to our care? Have we properly prepared them to persevere in the world outside our homes? Are they strong enough to endure the persecutions and temptations waiting to consume them?
We can never be sure. But we need to trust that Our Lord desires that all will be saved. With His grace we can bring to Him the delicious fruits of our labor, and hope that when our children’s time is up - when Our Lord lifts them out of this world - they will be sealed.
- Cassandra Poppe
https://www.coffeesix-store.com/board/board_topic/7560063/7051387.htm
https://www.crossroadsbaitandtackle.com/board/board_topic/9053260/7051388.htm
https://freebestads.com/482/posts/2/7/1728136.html
https://www.trovagas.com/author/gameslive253/
https://mercadodinamico.com.br/author/gameslive253/
https://www.bloghalt.com/members/gameslive253/
https://expatkidskorea.com/profile/games-live/
https://slatestarcodex.com/author/gameslive253/
https://phatwalletforums.com/user/gameslive253
https://www.churchstaffing.com/resume/361243/
https://www.adsthumb.com/play-chess-online-for-free-2-player-chess-1076410
https://coinrushads.com/business-opportunities_2/publishing/play-chess-online-for-free-2-player-chess_i327970
https://www.coffeesix-store.com/board/board_topic/7560063/7051685.htm
https://www.crossroadsbaitandtackle.com/board/board_topic/9053260/7051689.htm
https://freebestads.com/536/posts/2/7/1728280.html
https://www.trovagas.com/author/chrisdave1985/
https://mercadodinamico.com.br/author/chrisdave1985/
https://www.bloghalt.com/members/chrisdave1985/
https://expatkidskorea.com/profile/chris-dave/
https://slatestarcodex.com/author/chrisdave1985/
https://phatwalletforums.com/user/chrisdave1985
https://www.churchstaffing.com/resume/361245/
https://www.adsthumb.com/card-games-live-play-play-all-your-favorite-classic-card-games.-1076525
https://coinrushads.com/business-opportunities_2/general/card-games-live-play-play-all-your-favorite-classic-card-games_i327980
https://www.coffeesix-store.com/board/board_topic/7560063/7051980.htm
https://www.crossroadsbaitandtackle.com/board/board_topic/9053260/7051983.htm
https://freebestads.com/536/posts/2/7/1728422.html
https://www.trovagas.com/author/cj9929360/
https://mercadodinamico.com.br/author/cj9929360/
https://www.bloghalt.com/members/cj9929360/
https://expatkidskorea.com/profile/
https://slatestarcodex.com/author/cj9929360/
https://phatwalletforums.com/user/cj9929360
https://www.churchstaffing.com/resume/361246/
https://www.adsthumb.com/play-online-pool-anytime-anywhere-1076612
https://coinrushads.com/business-opportunities_2/general/play-online-pool-anytime-anywhere_i328003
https://www.coffeesix-store.com/board/board_topic/7560063/7052451.htm
https://www.crossroadsbaitandtackle.com/board/board_topic/9053260/7052453.htm
https://freebestads.com/536/posts/2/7/1728594.html
https://www.trovagas.com/author/johndave4869/
https://mercadodinamico.com.br/author/johndave4869/
https://www.bloghalt.com/members/johndave4869/
https://expatkidskorea.com/profile/
https://slatestarcodex.com/author/johndave4869/
https://phatwalletforums.com/user/johndave4869
https://www.churchstaffing.com/resume/361248/
https://www.adsthumb.com/snake-games-play-on-snakes-games-live-play-play-online-for-free-1076717
https://coinrushads.com/business-opportunities_2/general/snake-games-play-on-snakes-games-live-play-play-online-for-free_i328011
https://www.coffeesix-store.com/board/board_topic/7560063/7052576.htm
https://www.crossroadsbaitandtackle.com/board/board_topic/9053260/7052577.htm
https://freebestads.com/536/posts/2/7/1728635.html
https://www.trovagas.com/author/jd8982419/
https://mercadodinamico.com.br/author/jd8982419/
https://www.bloghalt.com/members/jd8982419/
https://expatkidskorea.com/profile/
https://slatestarcodex.com/author/jd8982419/
https://phatwalletforums.com/user/jd8982419
https://www.churchstaffing.com/resume/361249/
https://www.adsthumb.com/free-online-puzzle-games-play-on-puzzle-games-live-play-1076751
https://coinrushads.com/business-opportunities_2/general/free-online-puzzle-games-play-on-puzzle-games-live-play_i328017
https://www.coffeesix-store.com/board/board_topic/7560063/7051387.htm
https://www.crossroadsbaitandtackle.com/board/board_topic/9053260/7051388.htm
https://freebestads.com/482/posts/2/7/1728136.html
https://www.trovagas.com/author/gameslive253/
https://mercadodinamico.com.br/author/gameslive253/
https://www.bloghalt.com/members/gameslive253/
https://expatkidskorea.com/profile/games-live/
https://slatestarcodex.com/author/gameslive253/
https://phatwalletforums.com/user/gameslive253
https://www.churchstaffing.com/resume/361243/
https://www.adsthumb.com/play-chess-online-for-free-2-player-chess-1076410
https://coinrushads.com/business-opportunities_2/publishing/play-chess-online-for-free-2-player-chess_i327970
https://www.coffeesix-store.com/board/board_topic/7560063/7051685.htm
https://www.crossroadsbaitandtackle.com/board/board_topic/9053260/7051689.htm
https://freebestads.com/536/posts/2/7/1728280.html
https://www.trovagas.com/author/chrisdave1985/
https://mercadodinamico.com.br/author/chrisdave1985/
https://www.bloghalt.com/members/chrisdave1985/
https://expatkidskorea.com/profile/chris-dave/
https://slatestarcodex.com/author/chrisdave1985/
https://phatwalletforums.com/user/chrisdave1985
https://www.churchstaffing.com/resume/361245/
https://www.adsthumb.com/card-games-live-play-play-all-your-favorite-classic-card-games.-1076525
https://coinrushads.com/business-opportunities_2/general/card-games-live-play-play-all-your-favorite-classic-card-games_i327980
https://www.coffeesix-store.com/board/board_topic/7560063/7051980.htm
https://www.crossroadsbaitandtackle.com/board/board_topic/9053260/7051983.htm
https://freebestads.com/536/posts/2/7/1728422.html
https://www.trovagas.com/author/cj9929360/
https://mercadodinamico.com.br/author/cj9929360/
https://www.bloghalt.com/members/cj9929360/
https://expatkidskorea.com/profile/
https://slatestarcodex.com/author/cj9929360/
https://phatwalletforums.com/user/cj9929360
https://www.churchstaffing.com/resume/361246/
https://www.adsthumb.com/play-online-pool-anytime-anywhere-1076612
https://coinrushads.com/business-opportunities_2/general/play-online-pool-anytime-anywhere_i328003
https://www.coffeesix-store.com/board/board_topic/7560063/7052451.htm
https://www.crossroadsbaitandtackle.com/board/board_topic/9053260/7052453.htm
https://freebestads.com/536/posts/2/7/1728594.html
https://www.trovagas.com/author/johndave4869/
https://mercadodinamico.com.br/author/johndave4869/
https://www.bloghalt.com/members/johndave4869/
https://expatkidskorea.com/profile/
https://slatestarcodex.com/author/johndave4869/
https://phatwalletforums.com/user/johndave4869
https://www.churchstaffing.com/resume/361248/
https://www.adsthumb.com/snake-games-play-on-snakes-games-live-play-play-online-for-free-1076717
https://coinrushads.com/business-opportunities_2/general/snake-games-play-on-snakes-games-live-play-play-online-for-free_i328011
https://www.coffeesix-store.com/board/board_topic/7560063/7052576.htm
https://www.crossroadsbaitandtackle.com/board/board_topic/9053260/7052577.htm
https://freebestads.com/536/posts/2/7/1728635.html
https://www.trovagas.com/author/jd8982419/
https://mercadodinamico.com.br/author/jd8982419/
https://www.bloghalt.com/members/jd8982419/
https://expatkidskorea.com/profile/
https://slatestarcodex.com/author/jd8982419/
https://phatwalletforums.com/user/jd8982419
https://www.churchstaffing.com/resume/361249/
https://www.adsthumb.com/free-online-puzzle-games-play-on-puzzle-games-live-play-1076751
https://coinrushads.com/business-opportunities_2/general/free-online-puzzle-games-play-on-puzzle-games-live-play_i328017
https://www.friend007.com/read-blog/239945
https://www.globhy.com/article/play-chess-online-for-free-with-friends-and-family
https://camlive.ovh/read-blog/22410
https://youslade.com/read-blog/139159
https://theavtar.in/read-blog/79963
https://climbersfamily.com/read-blog/239981
https://likeminds.fun/read-blog/50150
https://doomelang.com/read-blog/131621
https://ivebo.co.uk/read-blog/142633
https://www.wowonder.xyz/read-blog/267265
https://www.geto.space/read-blog/15263
https://u-ssr.com/read-blog/37990
https://www.friend007.com/read-blog/239988
https://www.globhy.com/article/card-games-live-play-play-all-your-favorite-classic-card-games
https://camlive.ovh/read-blog/22416
https://youslade.com/read-blog/139181
https://theavtar.in/read-blog/79970
https://climbersfamily.com/read-blog/240024
https://likeminds.fun/read-blog/50180
https://doomelang.com/read-blog/131641
https://ivebo.co.uk/read-blog/142670
https://www.wowonder.xyz/read-blog/267314
https://www.geto.space/read-blog/15270
https://u-ssr.com/read-blog/37988
https://www.friend007.com/read-blog/240007
https://www.globhy.com/article/pool-games-play-online-for-free
https://camlive.ovh/read-blog/22422
https://youslade.com/read-blog/139201
https://theavtar.in/read-blog/79981
https://climbersfamily.com/read-blog/240077
https://likeminds.fun/read-blog/50208
https://doomelang.com/read-blog/131672
https://ivebo.co.uk/read-blog/142714
https://www.wowonder.xyz/read-blog/267380
https://www.geto.space/read-blog/15276
https://u-ssr.com/read-blog/37986
https://www.friend007.com/read-blog/240023
https://www.globhy.com/article/snake-games-play-on-snakes-games-live-play-play-online-for-free
https://camlive.ovh/read-blog/22428
https://youslade.com/read-blog/139227
https://theavtar.in/read-blog/80002
https://climbersfamily.com/read-blog/240109
https://likeminds.fun/read-blog/50220
https://doomelang.com/read-blog/131708
https://ivebo.co.uk/read-blog/142733
https://www.wowonder.xyz/read-blog/267430
https://www.geto.space/read-blog/15284
https://u-ssr.com/read-blog/38009
https://www.friend007.com/read-blog/240032
https://www.globhy.com/article/free-online-puzzle-games-play-on-puzzle-games-live-play
https://camlive.ovh/read-blog/22431
https://youslade.com/read-blog/139245
https://theavtar.in/read-blog/80012
https://climbersfamily.com/read-blog/240127
https://likeminds.fun/read-blog/50226
https://doomelang.com/read-blog/131723
https://ivebo.co.uk/read-blog/142752
https://www.wowonder.xyz/read-blog/267465
https://www.geto.space/read-blog/15287
https://u-ssr.com/read-blog/38025
https://www.friend007.com/read-blog/239945
https://www.globhy.com/article/play-chess-online-for-free-with-friends-and-family
https://camlive.ovh/read-blog/22410
https://youslade.com/read-blog/139159
https://theavtar.in/read-blog/79963
https://climbersfamily.com/read-blog/239981
https://likeminds.fun/read-blog/50150
https://doomelang.com/read-blog/131621
https://ivebo.co.uk/read-blog/142633
https://www.wowonder.xyz/read-blog/267265
https://www.geto.space/read-blog/15263
https://u-ssr.com/read-blog/37990
https://www.friend007.com/read-blog/239988
https://www.globhy.com/article/card-games-live-play-play-all-your-favorite-classic-card-games
https://camlive.ovh/read-blog/22416
https://youslade.com/read-blog/139181
https://theavtar.in/read-blog/79970
https://climbersfamily.com/read-blog/240024
https://likeminds.fun/read-blog/50180
https://doomelang.com/read-blog/131641
https://ivebo.co.uk/read-blog/142670
https://www.wowonder.xyz/read-blog/267314
https://www.geto.space/read-blog/15270
https://u-ssr.com/read-blog/37988
https://www.friend007.com/read-blog/240007
https://www.globhy.com/article/pool-games-play-online-for-free
https://camlive.ovh/read-blog/22422
https://youslade.com/read-blog/139201
https://theavtar.in/read-blog/79981
https://climbersfamily.com/read-blog/240077
https://likeminds.fun/read-blog/50208
https://doomelang.com/read-blog/131672
https://ivebo.co.uk/read-blog/142714
https://www.wowonder.xyz/read-blog/267380
https://www.geto.space/read-blog/15276
https://u-ssr.com/read-blog/37986
https://www.friend007.com/read-blog/240023
https://www.globhy.com/article/snake-games-play-on-snakes-games-live-play-play-online-for-free
https://camlive.ovh/read-blog/22428
https://youslade.com/read-blog/139227
https://theavtar.in/read-blog/80002
https://climbersfamily.com/read-blog/240109
https://likeminds.fun/read-blog/50220
https://doomelang.com/read-blog/131708
https://ivebo.co.uk/read-blog/142733
https://www.wowonder.xyz/read-blog/267430
https://www.geto.space/read-blog/15284
https://u-ssr.com/read-blog/38009
https://www.friend007.com/read-blog/240032
https://www.globhy.com/article/free-online-puzzle-games-play-on-puzzle-games-live-play
https://camlive.ovh/read-blog/22431
https://youslade.com/read-blog/139245
https://theavtar.in/read-blog/80012
https://climbersfamily.com/read-blog/240127
https://likeminds.fun/read-blog/50226
https://doomelang.com/read-blog/131723
https://ivebo.co.uk/read-blog/142752
https://www.wowonder.xyz/read-blog/267465
https://www.geto.space/read-blog/15287
https://u-ssr.com/read-blog/38025
In the past, I was timid and uninformed about cryptocurrencies. Regretfully, my in-law, who thought he knew a little about investment, persuaded me. I deposited more than £155,000, my hard-earned savings intended for a new home, with the aim of swiftly doubling my money and a little greed. That proved to be the biggest error I’ve ever made. The anticipated profits did not materialize after several weeks. I realized that I had been duped. I sobbed for days and nights, feeling guilty and remorseful. My in-law was also a victim of the same scam, so I couldn’t even confide in him. I had to try, even though I knew there was little hope of regaining anything. In my frantic quest for assistance, I read reviews of Wizard James Recovery. Fortunately, I was able to get in touch with someone they had assisted successfully in a similar circumstance. I had a glimmer of hope after that. I contacted Wizard James Recovery and carefully followed their directions. A few days later, I was relieved to hear the amazing news that my money had been located and was on its way back to me. I received the majority of my savings back after they deducted their well-earned share for the recovery service. I am so grateful to them. A rebuilt future emerged from what appeared to be a lost cause. Know that there is still hope if you find yourself in a similar circumstance. SPEAK WITH THEM NOW AT +447418367204 ON WHATSAPP
Leave a comment