Three Trees
Once
upon a mountian top, three little trees
stood and
dreamed of what
they wanted
to become when they grew up.
The
first little tree looked up at the stars and said
"I want to
hold treasure. I want to be covered with
gold and
filled with precious
metals. I'll
be the most beautiful treasure chest in the world!"
The
second little tree looked out at the small stream trickling by on
it's 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 in 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 stop to 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 rain came, the sun shone, and
the 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 ax, 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 shinig ax, 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 looked up. "Any kind of tree will do for me." He
muttered.
With a swoop of his shinig ax, the third tree fell.
The
first tree rejoiced when the woodcutter brought her to a
carpenter's
shop. But the carpenter fashioned the tree into a feed
trough for
animals. The once beautiful tree was not covered with gold,
hungry farm
animals.
The
second tree smilied when the woodcutter took her to a shipyard, but
no mighty
sailing ship was made that day. Instead, the once strong tree
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
days and nights passed. The three trees nearly forget their
dreams. But
one night, golden starlight poured over the first tree as a
young woman
placed her newborn baby in the feed trough. "I wish I could
make a cradle
for him." her husband wispered. 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 she
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 quietly sailed
out into
the lake. Soon a thundering and trashing storm arose. The
little tree
shuddered. She knew she didn't have the strength to carry so
many passengers
safely through the wind and rain. The tired man
awakened.
He stood up, streached out his hand and said, "Peace."
The storm
stopped as quickly as it had come. And suddenly the second
tree knew
she was carrying the king of heaven and earth.
One Friday
morning, the third tree was startled when her beams were
yanked from
the forgotten 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 and 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
every time people think of the third tree, they will think of God.
That was
better than being the tallest tree in the world.
So,
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!
~Unknown
Author
The
all knowing Lord blesses us and our dreams, often in unknown and
mysterious
ways. His will is omnipresent. His grace supreme. His love
eternal.
His gifts bountiful!
