Parable of the Tares
Another parable which Jesus told them was this—
“The Kingdom of Heaven is compared to a man who sowed good seed in his field. But, while every one was asleep, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and then went away. So, when the blades of corn shot up, and came into ear, the tares made their appearance also. On this the owner’s servants came to him, and said ‘Was not it good seed that you sowed in your field? Where, then, do the tares in it come from?’
“‘An enemy has done this,’ was his answer.
“‘Do you wish us, then,’ they asked, ‘to go and gather them together?’
“‘No,’ he said, ‘for fear that, while you are gathering the tares, you should root up the wheat as well. Let both grow side by side till harvest; and then I shall say to the reapers, Gather the tares together first, and tie them in bundles for burning; but bring all the wheat into my barn.'”
—Matthew.
Sowing and Reaping
Sow an act and you reap a habit;
Sow a habit and you reap a character;
Sow a character and you reap a destiny.
—Anon.
So teach us to number our days that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.
—Psalms.
Training Character
Teach the child self-respect; train it in self-respect, just as you train a plant in better ways. No self-respecting man was ever a grafter. Above all, bear in mind repetition, repetition, the use of an influence over and over again. Keeping everlastingly at it, this is what fixes traits in plants—the constant repetition of an influence until at last it is irrevocably fixed and will not change. You cannot afford to get discouraged. You are dealing with something far more precious than any plant —the precious life of a child.
—Luther Burbank.