Once there were three trees on a hill in the woods. They were
> discussing
> their hopes and dreams when the first tree said, "Someday I hope to be
> a
> treasure chest. I could be filled with gold, silver and precious gems.
> I
> could be decorated with intricate carving and everyone would see the
> beauty."
> Then the second tree said, "Someday I will be a mighty ship. I will
> take
> kings and queens across the waters and sail to the corners of the
> world.
> Everyone will feel safe in me because of the strength of my hull."
> Finally the third tree said, "I want to grow to be the tallest and
> straightest tree in the forest. People will see me on top of the hill
> and look up to my branches, and think of the heavens and God and how
> close to them I am reaching. I will be the greatest tree of all time
> and
> people will always remember me."
> After a few years of praying that their dreams would come true, a group
> of woodsmen came upon the trees. When one came to the first tree he
> said, "This looks like a strong tree, I think I should be able to sell
> the wood to a carpenter, "and he began cutting it down. The tree was
> happy, because he knew that the carpenter would make him into a
> treasure
> chest.
> At the second tree the woodsman said, "This looks like a strong tree, I
> should be able to sell it to the shipyard." The second tree was happy
> because he knew he was on his way to becoming a mighty ship.
> When the woodsmen came upon the third tree, the tree was frightened
> because he knew that if they cut him down his dreams would not come
> true. One of the woodsmen said, "I don't need anything special from my
> tree, I'll take this one," and he cut it down.
> When the first tree arrived at the carpenters, he was made into a feed
> box for animals. He was then placed in a barn and filled with hay. This
> was not at all what he had prayed for.
> The second tree was cut and made into a small fishing boat. His dreams
> of being a mighty ship and carrying kings had come to an end.
> The third tree was cut into large pieces and left alone in the dark.
> The
> years went by, and the trees forgot about their dreams.
> Then one day, a man and woman came to the barn. She gave birth and they
> placed the baby in the hay in the feed box that was made from the first
> tree. The man wished that he could have made a crib for the baby, but
> this manger would have to do. The tree could feel the importance of
> this
> event and knew that it had held the greatest treasure of all time.
> Years later, a group of men got in the fishing boat made from the
> second
> tree. One of them was tired and went to sleep. While they were out on
> the water, a great storm arose and the tree didn't think it was strong
> enough to keep the men safe. The men woke the sleeping man, and He
> stood
> and said "Peace" and the storm stopped. At this time, the tree knew
> that
> it had carried the King of Kings in its boat.
> Finally, someone came and got the third tree. It was carried through
> the
> streets as the people mocked the man who was carrying it. When they
> came
> to a stop, the man was nailed to the tree and raised in the air to die
> at the top of a hill. When Sunday came, the tree came to realize that
> it
> was strong enough to stand at the top of the hill and be as close to
> God
> as was possible, because Jesus had been crucified on it.
> The moral of this story is that when things don't seem to be going your
> way, always know that God has a plan for you. If you place your trust
> in
> Him, He will give you great gifts. Each of the trees got what they
> wanted, just not in the way they had imagined. We don't always know
> what
> God's plans are for us. We just know that His ways are not our ways,
> but
> His ways are always best.
> Please keep this moving...pass it on, so He may inspire more people on
> the way. May your day be blessed. And until we meet again, may God
> cradle you in the palm of His hand.
Free Forum Hosting
Important Announcement
First 