Marion Gaskins

The Parable of the Young Mother The young mother placed her foot upon the path of life. “Is the way long?” she asked…and her guide said, “Yes, and the way is hard. You’ll be old before you reach the end of it, but the end is better than the beginning.” The young mother was happy, and she just couldn’t believe anything would ever be better than these years. So she played with her children and gathered flowers with them along the way, and bathed them in the clear streams. The sun shone down upon them and life was good. The young mother said, “Nothing will ever be better than this.” But the night came…and the storm. The children shook with fear and cold. But the mother drew them to her and placed her arms around them with her coat. The children said, “Mother, we’re not afraid for you’re here and no harm can come to us.” That night the mother looked up at the stars and said, “This is better than the brightness of the day, for I have taught my children courage.” The n...