3 Trees-----serious story

3 Trees

Once there were three trees on a hill in the woods. They werediscussing their hopes and dreams when the first tree said, "Someday Ihope to be a treasure chest. I could be filled with gold, silver, andprecious gems. I could be decorated with intricate carving and everyonewould see the beauty."

Then the second tree said, "Someday I will be a mighty ship. I willtake kings and queens across the waters and sail to the corners of theworld. Everyone will feel safe in me because of the strength of myhull."

Finally the third tree said, "I want to grow to be the tallest andstraightest tree in the forest. People will see me on top of the Hilland look up to my branches, and think of the heavens and God and howclose to them! I am reaching. I will be the greatest tree of all timeand people will always remember me."

After a few years of praying that their dreams would come true, a groupof woodsmen came upon the trees. When one came to the first tree hesaid, "This looks like a strong tree, I think I should be able to sellthe 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 treasurechest.

At the second tree the woodsman said, "This looks like a strong tree, Ishould be able to sell it to the shipyard." The second tree was happybecause he knew he was on his way to becoming a mighty ship.

When the woodsmen came upon the third tree, the tree was frightenedbecause he knew that if they cut him down his dreams would not cometrue. One of the woodsmen said, "I don't need anything special from mytree, I'll take this one," and he cut it down.

When the first tree arrived at the carpenters, he was made into a feedbox 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 dreamsof 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 theyplaced the baby in the hay in the feed box that was made from the firsttree. The man wished that he could have made a crib for the baby, butthis manger would have to do The tree could feel the importance of thisevent 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 secondtree. One of them was tired and went to sleep. While they were out onthe water, a great storm arose and the tree didn't think it was strongenough to keep the men safe. The men woke the sleeping man, and Hestood and said "Peace" and the storm stopped. At this time, the treeknew that it had carried the King of Kings in its boat.

Finally, someone came and got the third tree. It was carried throughthe streets as the people mocked the man who was carrying it. When theycame to a stop; the man was nailed to the tree and raised in the air todie at the top of a hill. When Sunday came, the tree came to realizethat it was strong enough to stand at the top of the hill and be asclose 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 yourway, always know that God has a plan for you. If you place your trustin Him, He will give you great gifts. Each of the trees got what theywanted, just not in the way they had imagined. We don't always knowwhat God's plans are for us. We just know that! His ways are not ourways, but His ways are always best.

May your day be blessed. And until we meet again, may God cradle you inthe palm of His hands.