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 its way to the ocean.
The second little tree looked out at the small stream trickling by on its way to the ocean.
"I want to travel 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.
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,
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 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,
The second woodcutter looked at the second tree and said,
"This tree is strong. It is perfect for me." With a swoop of his 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.
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 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 feed-box for animals. The once beautiful tree was neither 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 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, silver starlight poured over the first tree as a young woman placed her new born baby in the feed-box.
The first tree rejoiced when the woodcutter brought her to a carpenter's shop. But the carpenter fashioned the tree into a feed-box for animals. The once beautiful tree was neither 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 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, silver starlight poured over the first tree as a young woman placed her new born baby in the feed-box.
"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.
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 she was holding the greatest treasure in the world.
One evening a tired traveller and his friends crowded into an old fishing boat. The traveller 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,
One evening a tired traveller and his friends crowded into an old fishing boat. The traveller 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 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.
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, the sun rose and the earth trembled with joy beneath her; and 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.
The next time you feel down because you didn't get what you want, sit tight and (as difficult as that may be) be happy because God is thinking of something better to give you. Recognize that your best schemes can never equal one ‘bad’ plan of His. Yet, He does NOT have those! All of his plans for you are blueprints of good…to give you a future and a hope. Trust that His will for you is (to do you) good and that even when everything around you seems contrary, He is still on course and putting things in place to get you to a place that is bigger, better and brighter than anything you (could ever have) imagined.
The author of this story is unknown. That is not new, so many of the brains behind the most beautiful things on earth are unsung. Even the creator of mankind has not gotten a fair deal from the crème of his creation. It is up to you to decide whether by trusting Him you can single yourself out (of the pack) as one that understands that He has no choice but to be faithful – for His name’s sake, if all else fails.
One last thing: all of the trees got outcomes that superseded their expectations – even if the route was different from the ones they would have chosen. Still the one that enjoyed (and still enjoys) the most honour is the third tree. The reason is that from the onset her dream was not all about her – centred on, concerning and benefiting just her. Rather, it was an aspiration that was meant to give God glory while she would bask in the glow of that. When you give God prime place, He has a way of, amply and completely, exceeding your tallest dreams. Try Him today!
DEEP! Great one
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