The three Little trees ...

Author: Three Little Trees is a copywrited work by Angela Elwell Hunt

 

Once upon a mountaintop, three little trees stood 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 down upon a small stream, trickling by
on its way to the ocean.  "I want to travel the mighty waters and
carry a powerful king.  I'll be the strongest ship in the world!"

The third little tree looked down into the valley, where busy men and
women worked in a busy town.  "I don't want to leave the mountaintop
at all. I want to grow so tall that when people look up at me, they'll
raise their eyes to Heaven and think of God.  I will be the tallest
tree in the world!"

The years passed.  The rains came, the sun shone, and the 3 little
trees grew strong and tall.  One day,  3 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 the mighty waters," thought 
the second tree.  "I shall be a strong ship for a mighty king!"

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 tree will do for me,"   he
muttered. With a swoop of his shining axe, the third tree fell to the
ground.

The first tree rejoiced when the woodcutter brought her to a
carpenter's shop, but the carpenter fashioned her into a feedbox for
animals. The once beautiful tree was not covered with gold, or held  any
treasure. She was coated in 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 an ocean, or even a river.  Instead, she was
taken to a small lake.

The third three was confused when the woodcutter cut her into strong
square beams and left her in a lumberyard.  "What happened?" the once
tall tree wondered.  "All I ever wanted was to stay on the mountaintop
and point to God."

Many, many days and nights passed. The three trees nearly forgot
their dreams.  But then, one night, golden starlight poured over the
first tree as a woman placed her newborn baby in the feedbox.  "I
wish I could have made a cradle for Him,"  her husband whispered. The
mother squeezed his hand, and smiled as starlight shone on the smooth
and sturdy wood.  "This manger is beautiful" she said. Suddenly, the
first tree knew that she was holding the greatest treasure in the world!

More days and nights passed.  This night, a tired traveler and his
friends crowded into the old fishing boat.  The traveler fell asleep
as the second tree sailed quietly out into the lake.  Suddenly, 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.  At this moment, the second tree knew she was
carrying the King of the heavens and the earth.

Then, 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; cruel. But three days
later, when the sun arose, the earth trembled with joy beneath her.  At
that moment, the third tree knew God's love had changed everything.
From that day forward, every time people looked up her, they would
think of God's love. 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
asked for in prayer, just sit tight. God is thinking of something BETTER
to give you.