THREE LITTLE TREES...

[Guest guest]

Once, three little trees stood upon a mountain top and dreamed of what they

wanted to become when they grew up.

The first little tree looked 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 the 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 carpenter's workshop.

But the carpenter fashioned her into a feedbox for animals.

The once beautiful tree was not covered with 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 on an ocean, or even a river.

She was, instead, 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 and 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 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, stretched 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 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 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 the world. 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 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.