THREE TREES' DREAMS
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 to the mountain top.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 shining ax, the second
tree fell. "Now I shall sail mighty waters!" thought the second tree. "I
shall be a strong ship for mighty kings! and tall and pointed bravely to
heaven."
But the third woodcutter never even looked up. "Any kind of tree will do for
me." He muttered. With a swoop of his shining ax, the third tree fell.
The first tree rejoiced when the woodcutter brought her to a carpenter's
shop. But the carpenter made it into a feedbox for animals. The once
beautiful tree was not covered with gold, nor with treasure. She was coated
with saw dust and filled with hay for hungry farm animals.
The second tree smiled when the woodcutter took her to 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 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. And suddenly the second tree knew he was carrying the king of
heaven and earth.
One Friday morning, the third tree was startled when her beam 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 everytime
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...........
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