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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 a 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 so 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 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.
As you look upon your Christmas tree, remember this story. 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.
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