Three Trees
Once upon a mountain top, three little trees stood and dreamed of what
they wanted to become when they grew up. The first little treelooked
at the stars and said: "I want to hold treasure. I want to be covered
with
gold and filled with precious stones. I will be the most beautiful
treasure chest in the world!" The second little tree looked out at
the
small stream trickling by on its way to the ocean. "I want to be
traveling mighty waters and carrying powerful kings. I'll be the
strongest ship in the world!" The third little tree looked down into
the valley below where busy men and women worked in a busy town. "I
don't want to leave the mountain top at all. I want to grow so tall
that
when people look at me, they'll raise their eyes to heaven and think
of
God. I will be the tallest tree in the world."
Years passed. The rains came, the sun shone and the three little trees
grew tall.
One day three woodcutters climbed the mountain. The first
woodcutter looked at the first tree and said, "This tree is beautiful.
It is perfect for me." With a swoop of his shining axe, the first
tree
fell. "Now I shall be made into a beautiful chest, I shall hold
wonderful treasure!" The first tree said. The second woodcutter
>looked
at the second tree and said "This tree is strong, it is perfect for
me."
With a swoop of his shining axe the second tree fell. "Now I shall
sail
mighty waters" thought the second tree "I shall be a strong ship for
mighty kings!" The third tree felt her heart sink when the last
woodcutter looked her way. She stood straight and tall and pointed
bravely to heaven. But the woodcutter never even looked up. "Any kind
of
tree will do for me." he muttered. With a swoop of his shining axe the
third tree fell.
The first tree rejoiced when the woodcutter brought her to a
carpenters
shop, but the carpenter fashioned her into a feedbox for animals. The
once beautiful tree was not coveredwith gold nor with treasure. She
was
coated in sawdust and filled with hay for hungry farm animals. The
second tree smiled when the woodcutter took her to a shipyard, but no
mighty sailing ship was made that day. Instead the once strong tree
was
hammered and sawed into a simple fishing boat. She was too small and
too
weak to sail to an ocean, or even a river, instead she was taken to a
little lake. The third tree was confused when the woodcutter cut her
into strong beams and left her in a lumberyard. "What happened?" the
once tall tree wondered "All I ever wanted was to stay on the mountain
top and point to God."
Many many days and nights passed. The three trees nearly forgot their
dreams.
But one night golden starlight poured over the first tree as
a
woman placed her newborn baby in the feedbox. "I wish I could make a
cradle for him." her husband whispered. The mother squeezed his hand
and
smiled as the starlight shone on the smooth and sturdy wood. "This
manger is beautiful" she said. And suddenly the first tree knew that
he
was holding the greatest treasure in the world.
One evening a tired traveler and his friends crowded into the old
fishing boat. The traveler fell asleep as the second tree sailed
quietly
out into the lake. Soon a thundering and thrashing storm arose. The
little tree shuddered, she knew she didn't have the strength to carry
so
many passengers safely through the wind and the rain. The tired man
awakened. He stood up, streched out his hand and said "Peace". The
storm
stopped as quickly as it had begun. And suddenly the second tree knew
that he was carrying the king of heaven and earth.
One Friday morning, the third tree was startled when her beams were
yanked from the forgotted woodpile. She flinched as she was carried
through an angry jeering crowd. She shuddered when soldiers nailed a
man's hands to her. She felt ugly harsh and cruel. But, on Sunday
morning, when the sun rose and the earth trembled with joy beneath
her,
the third tree knew that God's love had changed everything.
It had
made
the third tree strong. And everytime people thought of the third tree,
they would think of God. That was better than being the tallest tree
in
the world.
So the next time you feel down because you didn't get what you wanted,
just sit tight and be happy because God is thinking of something
better
to give you.
