An Old Tree

[Guest guest]

An Old Tree

Once upon a time there was a leafy tree in a field. Leaves grew densely on the tall branches. The roots were deeply into the ground. The tree was the most remarkable among the rest. The tree then became the home for some birds. They built their nests and they lived on his branches. The birds made holes on him, and they hatched their eggs within the greatness of the tree. The tree felt so delighted because he was accompanied as he walked through his long lasting days.

People were grateful for the presence of the tree. They often came over and sheltered under him. Under his branches, they sat down and opened their picnic baskets. "This tree is very useful," that's what the people said everytime they went home from shelter. The tree was very proud hearing those compliments.

However, time went on. The tree was beginning to be sick. His leaves and twigs were falling, then his body became thin and pale. The greatness he used to have was fading away. Birds felt reluctant to build their nests there. No one would come to sit under the tree to shelter anymore.

The tree wept, "Oh God, why is it so hard for me? I need friends. Now no one would come close to me. Why do you take all the glory I used to have?" The tree cried loudly, so it echoed throughout the forest. "Why wouldn't you cut me down, so I don't have to bear this suffering?" The tree kept on crying, and his tears were running down his dry body.

Seasons came and went, but his condition had not changed. The tree was still feeling lonely. His branches became drier and drier. Every night the tree wept and cried, until the morning broke.

"Cheep...chirp. ...cheep" Ah, what was that noise? Oh, it's a little baby bird who has just pipped from the egg. The old tree woke up from his daydream.

"Cheep...chirp. ..cheep", the noise became louder and louder. There was another baby bird. Not long after that, the tree became noisy because of the birth of new baby birds. One...two... three...and four baby birds have been born to this world. "Ah, He has answered my prayers," exclaimed the old tree.

The day after, there were many birds flying to the old tree. They were going to build new nests.

The dry branches have turned out to attract their attention to nest there. The birds felt warmer to stay inside the dry branches instead of their place before. The number of birds was increasing and there were more kinds of them. "Wow, now my days are brighter with their presence here", murmured the old tree gladly.

The old tree was back to cheer again. And when he looked down, his heart was flowing with joy. There was a new little tree growing near his roots. The new tree seemed to smile at him. The tears of the old tree has grown a little tree who would continue his devotion to nature.

Dear friends, that's the way it is. Is there any lesson that we could take from the story? God always has secret plans for us. The Almighty God will always gives answers to our questions. Eventhough it is not always easy to guess what the resolution is, be certain that the Omniscient God knows what's best for us.

When there are times He sends temptation for us, in other times He gives us His overflowing blessings. The test He gives us isn't something that can't be overcome. When God gave the temptation to the old tree, actually He DELAYED in giving His glory. God didn't choose to cut the old tree down since He kept some secrets. God was testing his patience.

So, dear friends, be sure, whatever temptation we are facing is a part of the chain of glory He is preparing for us. Don't give up, and don't be discouraged. God is always there beside patient people.

Regards

Prasanna Kumar

[Guest guest]

Respected Prasan kumar ji.

 

Extreeeeemely wonderful story with great lesson.

 

I find this story very close to my heart as few years ago, I was

passing through the same agony in my personal as well as professional

life. I also used to quetsion GOD " why it was with me when I had

never done wrong to anyone " . Similar feelings used to disturb me as

is in this story i.e. " why is it so hard for me & Why wouldn't you

take me away from this world, full of only greedy & opportunists " . I

too could not realized the purpose of my being on this earth as was

the case of the " tree " in your story. No frinds , no relatives in

their true sense. But now almost after 20+ hard years of my life, I

have got the answers from GOD to my most of the questions. I have

realized the very purpose of my being on this earth. But as on today

I am quite calm as I have realized that HE besides testing my

patience made me morally stronger too. May be some day in the near

future I will be also as happy and satisfied from within as

the " tree " of your story. I have stopped thinking of " giving up " in

my life.

 

Thanks for posting this great story to give us strength.

 

Vijay

 

, " prasanna kumar "

<groupowner.prasanna wrote:

>

>

> An Old Tree

>

> Once upon a time there was a leafy tree in a field. Leaves grew

densely

> on the tall branches. The roots were deeply into the ground. The

tree

> was the most remarkable among the rest. The tree then became the

home

> for some birds. They built their nests and they lived on his

branches.

> The birds made holes on him, and they hatched their eggs within the

> greatness of the tree. The tree felt so delighted because he was

> accompanied as he walked through his long lasting days.

>

> People were grateful for the presence of the tree. They often came

over

> and sheltered under him. Under his branches, they sat down and

opened

> their picnic baskets. " This tree is very useful, " that's what the

people

> said everytime they went home from shelter. The tree was very proud

> hearing those compliments.

>

> However, time went on. The tree was beginning to be sick. His

leaves and

> twigs were falling, then his body became thin and pale. The

greatness he

> used to have was fading away. Birds felt reluctant to build their

nests

> there. No one would come to sit under the tree to shelter anymore.

>

> The tree wept, " Oh God, why is it so hard for me? I need friends.

Now no

> one would come close to me. Why do you take all the glory I used to

> have? " The tree cried loudly, so it echoed throughout the

forest. " Why

> wouldn't you cut me down, so I don't have to bear this suffering? "

The

> tree kept on crying, and his tears were running down his dry body.

>

> Seasons came and went, but his condition had not changed. The tree

was

> still feeling lonely. His branches became drier and drier. Every

night

> the tree wept and cried, until the morning broke.

>

> " Cheep...chirp. ...cheep " Ah, what was that noise? Oh, it's a little

> baby bird who has just pipped from the egg. The old tree woke up

from

> his daydream.

>

> " Cheep...chirp. ..cheep " , the noise became louder and louder. There

was

> another baby bird. Not long after that, the tree became noisy

because of

> the birth of new baby birds. One...two... three...and four baby

birds

> have been born to this world. " Ah, He has answered my prayers, "

> exclaimed the old tree.

>

> The day after, there were many birds flying to the old tree. They

were

> going to build new nests.

>

> The dry branches have turned out to attract their attention to nest

> there. The birds felt warmer to stay inside the dry branches

instead of

> their place before. The number of birds was increasing and there

were

> more kinds of them. " Wow, now my days are brighter with their

presence

> here " , murmured the old tree gladly.

>

> The old tree was back to cheer again. And when he looked down, his

heart

> was flowing with joy. There was a new little tree growing near his

> roots. The new tree seemed to smile at him. The tears of the old

tree

> has grown a little tree who would continue his devotion to nature.

>

> Dear friends, that's the way it is. Is there any lesson that we

could

> take from the story? God always has secret plans for us. The

Almighty

> God will always gives answers to our questions. Eventhough it is not

> always easy to guess what the resolution is, be certain that the

> Omniscient God knows what's best for us.

>

> When there are times He sends temptation for us, in other times He

gives

> us His overflowing blessings. The test He gives us isn't something

that

> can't be overcome. When God gave the temptation to the old tree,

> actually He DELAYED in giving His glory. God didn't choose to cut

the

> old tree down since He kept some secrets. God was testing his

patience.

>

> So, dear friends, be sure, whatever temptation we are facing is a

part

> of the chain of glory He is preparing for us. Don't give up, and

don't

> be discouraged. God is always there beside patient people.

>

> Regards

>

> Prasanna Kumar

>