Three Trees…. 

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 the top of the hill and look up to my branches and think of the heavens and God and ow 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 it 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 woodsmen said, “This looks like a strong tree, I should be able to sell it to a shipyard.”  The second tree was happy because he knew he was on his way to becoming a mighty ship.

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 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 awoke the sleeping man  and he said, “Peace”  and the storm stopped.  At this time, the tree knew 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 Wednesday 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 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 the way they 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 the best.