Once
upon a mountain 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 stones. 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 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
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
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 carpenter's
shop. But the carpenter fashioned the tree into a feedbox for
animals. The once beautiful tree was not covered with gold, nor
with treasure. She was coated with 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 night passed. The three trees nearly forgot their
dreams. But one night, golden starlight poured over the first
tree as a young 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 the sturdy wood." This manger is beautiful," she
said. And suddenly the first tree knew 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 quietly
sailed out into the lake. Soon a thundering and thrashing storm
arose. The little tree shuddered. She knew she did not have the
strength to carry so many passengers safely through with the
wind and the rain. The tired man awakened. He stood up, stretched
out his hand, and said, "Peace." The storm stopped as quickly
as it had begun. Suddenly the second tree knew he 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 tremble 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 thought of the third tree, they would 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 want,
just sit tight and be happy because God is thinking of something
better to give you.
| Authors
Details: Unknown Author |
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