Three Trees
Once there were three trees on the hill in the woods. They were discussing their hopes and dreams with one another 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 everyonce can see my beauty."
The second tree said," Someday i will be a mighty ship. I will take kings and queens to the corners of the world. Everyone will feel safe in me because of the strength of my hull."
The third tree said, "I want to be the tallest and straightest tree in the forest. When people look at me on the top of the hill, they will look up to my branches and think of the heavens, and of God and how close i am to reaching Him. I will be the greatest tree of all and people will always remember me.
After a few years of praying that their dreams would come true, a group of woodsmen came to the trees.
When one came to the first tree, he said, "This looks like a strong tree. I should be able to sell it to the carpenter." So the woodsmen cut it down. The tree was happy cause he knew that he would be made into a beautiful treasure chest.
When another came to the second tree, he said, "This looks like a strong tree, I think i can sell it to the shipyard." The woodsmen cut this tree down too, and it was happy because he thought he was on his way to becoming a mighty ship.
When the woodsmen came to the third tree, he was afraid because he knew that if he was cut down, his dreams would not come true. But the woodsmen cut him down anyways, for no special purpose.
When the first tree reached the carpenter's, he was made into a feed box for animals. He was placed in a barn and filled with hay. This was not at all what he wished for.
The second tree was cut into a small fishing boat. His dream of becoming a mighty ship and carrying kings came 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 a woman came to the barn. She gave birth and placed the baby in the hay in the feed box made from the first tree. The man wished he could have made a crib for the baby but the manger would have to do.
The first tree could feel the significance of this event and knew that he held the greatest treasure of all time.
Years later, a group of men went into the fishing boat made from the second tree. One of them was tired and went to sleep. While they were on the water, a great storm rose and the second tree was afraid that he was not strong enough to keep them safe. The men woke the sleeping man, and He stood and said "Peace" and immediately the storm stopped.
At this time, the boat knew that it had carried the King of Kings in his boat.
Finally someone came and got the third tree. It was carried through the streets as 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 realized that it was strong enough to stand on the top of the hill and be closer to God than he ever dreamed possible, for the Lord Jesus was crucified on him.
Are you the feed box today, completely given up on your dreams? Or are you the fishing boat, used only in smooth waters? Or are you the large piece of wood, growing dustier each day? Sometimes in life, we all reach a stop, a phase where we begin to wonder if God is really there, if God is really listening to our prayers. But take heart, He is listening. Not only that, He loves you so much that He wants to do things His way for you, for He knows that His ways are better. Perhaps you didn't get the grades you wanted because God wants you to take a different course. Perhaps you didn't get to go to the party because God wants you to be closer to your family. Perhaps not getting the job you want means a better one is coming. Our God is a God of wonders, and if you just surrender, really let it all go to him, you can be assured that life will never be sweeter. Place your hope in Jesus Christ and watch it blossom to more you than you could have ever imagined.
"Imagine yourself as a living house. God comes in to rebuild that house. At first, perhaps, you can understand what He is doing. He is getting the drains right and stopping the leaks in the roof and so on; you kne that those jobs needed doing so you are not surprised. But presently He starts to knock the house in a way that hurts abominably and does not seem to make sense. What is He up to? The explanation is that He is making a house that is quite different than the one you thought of - throwing out a new wing here, putting an extra floor there, running up towers, making courtyards. You thought you were going to be made into a decent little cottage; but He is building a palace. And He intends to come and live in it Himself."
- C.S Lewis
God bless you!! :)
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