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.themeqx.com/forums/users/gameslive253/
https://www.pubpub.org/user/games-live-2
https://www.industryhuddle.com/online-free-chess-games
https://www.lawschool.life/forums/memberlist.php?mode=viewprofile&u=72318
https://beteiligung.tengen.de/profile/gameslive253/
https://participez.perigueux.fr/profiles/gameslive253/timeline?locale=en
https://circle.sparkraise.com/u/5e15e952
https://bookmeter.com/users/1606087
https://ficbook.net/authors/019830e5-4d71-7b50-9a0e-f70c259baa10
https://edostate.com/gameslive253
https://hire.digitalscholar.in/candidate/gameslive253/
https://forum.bandariklan.com/member.php?action=profile&uid=38656
https://flokii.com/-onlinefreechessgames#info
https://www.they-draw.com/artists/online-free-chess-games
https://bbs.heyshell.com/forum.php?mod=viewthread&tid=79142&extra=
https://www.themeqx.com/forums/users/chrisdave1985/
https://www.pubpub.org/user/chris-dave-2
https://www.industryhuddle.com/join
https://www.lawschool.life/forums/memberlist.php?mode=viewprofile&u=72321&sid=821ce4f231a59a1073f0f2ae7c2e54d5
https://beteiligung.tengen.de/profile/chrisdave1985/
https://participez.perigueux.fr/profiles/chrisdave1985/timeline?locale=en
https://circle.sparkraise.com/u/c6be411d
https://bookmeter.com/users/1606119
https://ficbook.net/authors/01983155-e2c1-7a50-aaac-14c772140e4a
https://edostate.com/chrisdave1985
https://hire.digitalscholar.in/candidate/chrisdave1985/
https://forum.bandariklan.com/member.php?action=profile&uid=38666
https://flokii.com/-onlinefreecardgames#info
https://www.they-draw.com/artists/onlinefreecardgames
https://bbs.heyshell.com/forum.php?mod=viewthread&tid=79152&extra=
https://www.themeqx.com/forums/users/cj9929360/
https://www.pubpub.org/user/pool-games-2
https://www.lawschool.life/forums/memberlist.php?mode=viewprofile&u=72322
https://beteiligung.tengen.de/profile/cj9929360/
https://participez.perigueux.fr/profiles/cj9929360/timeline?locale=en
https://circle.sparkraise.com/u/3eebf08f
https://bookmeter.com/users/1606132
https://ficbook.net/authors/01983199-59d5-7404-a275-49897ad0ebc2
https://edostate.com/cj9929360
https://hire.digitalscholar.in/candidate/cj9929360/
https://forum.bandariklan.com/member.php?action=profile&uid=38678
https://flokii.com/-onlinefreepoolgames#info
https://www.they-draw.com/artists/onlinefreepoolgames
https://bbs.heyshell.com/forum.php?mod=viewthread&tid=79182&extra=
https://www.themeqx.com/forums/users/johndave4869/
https://www.pubpub.org/user/john-dave
https://www.lawschool.life/forums/memberlist.php?mode=viewprofile&u=72323
https://beteiligung.tengen.de/profile/johndave4869/
https://participez.perigueux.fr/profiles/johndave4869/timeline?locale=en
https://circle.sparkraise.com/u/cb6a92c5
https://bookmeter.com/users/1606151
https://ficbook.net/authors/019831dc-8894-7022-b0b0-b7fb0ac45549
https://edostate.com/johndave4869
https://hire.digitalscholar.in/candidate/johndave4869/
https://forum.bandariklan.com/member.php?action=profile&uid=38686
https://flokii.com/-onlinefreesnakesgames#info
https://www.they-draw.com/artists/onlinefreesnakesgames
https://bbs.heyshell.com/forum.php?mod=viewthread&tid=79188&extra=
https://www.themeqx.com/forums/users/jd8982419/
https://www.pubpub.org/user/puzzle-games-3
https://www.lawschool.life/forums/memberlist.php?mode=viewprofile&u=72324
https://beteiligung.tengen.de/profile/jd8982419/
https://participez.perigueux.fr/profiles/jd8982419/timeline?locale=en
https://circle.sparkraise.com/u/987bdba0
https://bookmeter.com/users/1606166
https://ficbook.net/authors/01983208-a3db-70bb-9cc3-289ce2b1d349
https://edostate.com/jd8982419
https://hire.digitalscholar.in/candidate/jd8982419/
https://forum.bandariklan.com/member.php?action=profile&uid=38696
https://flokii.com/-onlinefreepuzzlegames#info
https://www.they-draw.com/artists/onlinefreepuzzlegames
https://bbs.heyshell.com/forum.php?mod=viewthread&tid=79199&extra=
CLICK HERE TO GET YOUR RETURNED CRYPTO FROM SCAMMERS – Real Captain Jack Crypto
Using Real Captain Jack has a lot of advantages. First and foremost, victims can rest easy knowing that there is a possibility of getting their lost money back. Second, by holding con artists responsible, victims can aid in the battle against cybercrime and stop others from becoming victims of the same schemes. Ultimately, victims can avoid wasting time and effort trying to retrieve their money by using Real Captain Jack Crypto’s services. With Real Captain Jack Crypto’s experience, victims can feel certain that their case is in capable hands even though recovering lost assets can be a difficult and time-consuming procedure. use the information you see below.
Email: realcaptainjack@proton.me Whsp: +49..1..5..7..8..2..3..1..7..1..1..2CLICK HERE TO GET YOUR RETURNED CRYPTO FROM SCAMMERS – Real Captain Jack Crypto
Using Real Captain Jack has a lot of advantages. First and foremost, victims can rest easy knowing that there is a possibility of getting their lost money back. Second, by holding con artists responsible, victims can aid in the battle against cybercrime and stop others from becoming victims of the same schemes. Ultimately, victims can avoid wasting time and effort trying to retrieve their money by using Real Captain Jack Crypto’s services. With Real Captain Jack Crypto’s experience, victims can feel certain that their case is in capable hands even though recovering lost assets can be a difficult and time-consuming procedure. use the information you see below.
Email: realcaptainjack@proton.me Whsp: +49..1..5..7..8..2..3..1..7..1..1..2https://yoomark.com/content/chess-free-online-puzzle-chess-game-where-you-can-compete-against-players-worldwide-exciting
https://www.vanlocal.ca/community-organizations/games-live
https://decidim.rezero.cat/profiles/gameslive253/timeline
https://freelance.ru/gameslive253
https://iszene.com/user-291316.html
https://www.undrtone.com/gameslive253
https://protospielsouth.com/user/73441
https://www.fundable.com/games-live
https://viesearch.com/24clh/chess-games-live-play
https://www.starbookmarking.com/story/chess-games-live-play-2
https://www.skincaretalk.com/members/gameslive253.169632/
https://www.ybookmarking.com/story/chess-games-live-play-2
https://www.rockurlife.net/user/gameslive253/?profiletab=main
https://www.socialbookmarkingwebsite.com/story/chess-games-live-play-play-chess-game-online-for-free
https://eap.kaspersky.com/user/gameslive253
https://tooter.in/gameslive253
https://androidrepublic.org/members/gameslive253.626752/#about
https://mail.directoryhub.uk/listing/chess-games-live-play-play-chess-online-free-games
https://leophotography.zenfolio.com/guestbook.html
https://yoomark.com/content/card-games-live-play-game-site-focused-classic-card-and-board-games-our-goal-make-great-0
https://www.vanlocal.ca/community-organizations/chris-dave
https://decidim.rezero.cat/profiles/chrisdave1985/timeline
https://freelance.ru/chrisdave1985
https://iszene.com/user-291329.html
https://www.undrtone.com/chrisdave1985
https://protospielsouth.com/user/73460
https://www.fundable.com/chris-dave-1
https://viesearch.com/24cnq/card-games-live-play
https://www.starbookmarking.com/story/card-games-live-play-play-all-your-favorite-classic-card-games-2
https://www.skincaretalk.com/members/chrisdave1985.169634/
https://www.ybookmarking.com/story/card-games-live-play-play-all-your-favorite-classic-card-games-2
https://www.rockurlife.net/user/chrisdave1985/?profiletab=main
https://www.socialbookmarkingwebsite.com/story/card-games-live-play-play-all-your-favorite-classic-card-games-2
https://eap.kaspersky.com/user/chrisdave1985
https://tooter.in/chrisdave1985
https://androidrepublic.org/members/chrisdave1985.626761/about
https://mail.directoryhub.uk/listing/card-games-live-play-play-all-your-favorite-classic-card-games
https://leophotography.zenfolio.com/guestbook.html
https://yoomark.com/content/play-best-online-pool-games-free-pool-games-live-play-play-pool-games-live-play-0
https://www.vanlocal.ca/community-organizations/chris-john
https://decidim.rezero.cat/profiles/cj9929360/timeline
https://freelance.ru/cj9929360
https://iszene.com/user-291357.html
https://www.undrtone.com/cj9929360
https://protospielsouth.com/user/73473
https://www.fundable.com/chris-john-2
https://viesearch.com/24cph/pool-games-live-play
https://www.starbookmarking.com/story/the-world-s-1-pool-game-play-on-pool-games-live-play-2
https://www.skincaretalk.com/members/cj9929360.169635/
https://www.ybookmarking.com/story/the-world-s-1-pool-game-play-on-pool-games-live-play-2
https://www.rockurlife.net/user/cj9929360/?profiletab=main
https://www.socialbookmarkingwebsite.com/story/pool-games-live-play-play-pool-game-online-for-free
https://eap.kaspersky.com/user/cj9929360
https://tooter.in/cj9929360
https://androidrepublic.org/members/cj9929360.626766/#about
https://mail.directoryhub.uk/listing/the-worlds-1-pool-game-play-on-pool-games-live-play
https://leophotography.zenfolio.com/guestbook.html
https://yoomark.com/content/discover-snake-games-best-website-free-online-games-snakes-games-live-play-works-your-mobile
https://www.vanlocal.ca/community-organizations/john-dave
https://decidim.rezero.cat/profiles/johndave4869/timeline
https://freelance.ru/johndave4869
https://iszene.com/user-291365.html
https://www.undrtone.com/johndave4869
https://protospielsouth.com/user/73492
https://www.fundable.com/john-dave-1
https://viesearch.com/24cr1/snakes-games-live-play
https://www.starbookmarking.com/story/snake-games-play-on-snakes-games-live-play-play-online-for-free-2
https://www.skincaretalk.com/members/johndave4869.169636/
https://www.ybookmarking.com/story/snake-games-play-on-snakes-games-live-play-play-online-for-free
https://www.rockurlife.net/user/johndave4869/?profiletab=main
https://www.socialbookmarkingwebsite.com/story/snakes-games-live-play-play-snake-game-online-for-free
https://eap.kaspersky.com/user/johndave4869
https://tooter.in/johndave4869
https://androidrepublic.org/members/johndave4869.626772/#about
https://mail.directoryhub.uk/listing/snake-games-play-on-snakes-games-live-play-play-online-for-free
https://yoomark.com/content/solve-puzzles-and-challenging-brain-games-puzzle-games-are-fun-and-engaging-way-challenge-0
https://www.vanlocal.ca/community-organizations/puzzle-games
https://decidim.rezero.cat/profiles/xcvcxcvcx21/timeline
https://freelance.ru/xcvcxcvcx21
https://iszene.com/user-291382.html
https://www.undrtone.com/xcvcxcvcx
https://protospielsouth.com/user/73505
https://www.fundable.com/puzzle-games
https://viesearch.com/24csb/puzzle-games-live-play
https://www.starbookmarking.com/story/free-online-puzzle-games-play-on-puzzle-games-live-play-2
https://www.skincaretalk.com/members/xcvcxcvcx21.169637/
https://www.ybookmarking.com/story/free-online-puzzle-games-play-on-puzzle-games-live-play
https://www.rockurlife.net/user/xcvcxcvcx21/?profiletab=main
https://www.socialbookmarkingwebsite.com/story/puzzle-games-live-play-play-puzzle-game-online-for-free
https://eap.kaspersky.com/user/xcvcxcvcx21
https://tooter.in/xcvcxcvcx21
https://androidrepublic.org/members/xcvcxcvcx21.626776/#about
https://mail.directoryhub.uk/listing/free-online-puzzle-games-play-on-puzzle-games-live-play
https://leophotography.zenfolio.com/guestbook.html
The offer sounded too good to be true, but I ignored my doubts after seeing the high-yield crypto trading platform and observing the market myself. In hindsight, that should have raised red flags. However, like many crypto investors, I was drawn into investing in digital assets, believing it was a huge opportunity for me. Unfortunately, this led to me becoming just another victim of a sophisticated crypto scam, in which I lost $312,000 in USDT (Tether). It was a devastating financial blow that threatened both my stability and peace of mind. If not for the intervention of a little-known cyber forensics firm, Morphohack Cyber Service, I would have lost everything. They helped me reverse the damage and reclaim control of my crypto assets.
I highly recommend the services of Morphohack. You can contact them via email (Morphohack@cyberservices . com). This team of blockchain experts and cybersecurity professionals was able to detect the scam, trace where my crypto was sent, and initiate a full recovery process.
It wasn’t a simple fix, it was a full-blown counteroffensive that lasted 72 hours. Within just three days, Morphohack had located the primary wallets used in the scam and coordinated a comprehensive recovery of my digital assets.
To anyone who might find themselves in the same situation I was in: don’t panic, and don’t suffer in silence. Seek help and act quickly. You can reach out to Morphohack at the email address above. Crypto recovery is real, if you move fast.
Leave a comment