Once upon a mountain top, 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 out at the small stream trickling by on its way to the ocean. "I want to be traveling mighty waters and carrying powerful kings. I'll be the strongest ship in the world!"
The third little tree looked down into the valley below where busy men and women worked in a busy town. "I don't want to leave the mountain top at all. I want to grow so tall that when people look at me, they'll raise their eyes to heaven and think of God. I will be the tallest tree in the world!"
Years passed. The rains came, the sun shone and the three littletrees grew tall. One day three woodcutters climbed the mountain. The first woodcutter looked at the first little 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 treasures!", said the first little tree.
The second woodcutter looked at the second little 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 mighty waters," thought the second tree, "I shall be a strong ship for mighty kings."
The third tree felt her heart sink when the last woodcutter looked at her. She stood straight and tall and pointed bravely to heaven. But the woodcutter never even looked up. "Any kind of tree will do for me," he muttered. With a swoop of his shining axe, the third little tree fell.
The first tree rejoiced when the woodcutter brought her to the carpenter's shop, but the carpenter fashioned her into a feedbox for animals. The once beautiful tree was not covered with gold nor with treasure. She was coated in sawdust 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 little lake.
The third tree was confused when the woodcutter cut her into long, strong beams and left her in a lumberyard. "What happened," the once tall tree wondered, "All I ever wanted was to stay on the mountain top and point to God."
Many, many days and nights passed. The three little trees nearly forgot their dreams. But one night, golden starlight poured over the first little tree as a woman placed her newborn baby in the feedbox. "I wish I could make a cradle for him," her husband whispered. The mother squeezed his hand and smiled as the starlight shone on the smooth sturdy wood. "This manger is beautiful!", she said. And suddenly the first little tree knew that he was holding the greatest treasure in the world!
One evening a tired traveler and his friends crowded into the simple fishing boat. The traveler fell asleep as the second little tree sailed quietly into the lake. Soon a thundering and thrashing storm arose. The little tree shuddered, she knew she did not have the strength to carry so many passengers safely through the wind and rain. The tired man awakened, He stood up, stretched out his hand and said, "Peace." The storm stopped as quickly as it had begun. And suddenly the second little tree knew that he was carrying the King of Heaven and Earth.
Then on Friday morning, the third little tree was startled when her long strong 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 and cruel. But on Sunday morning, when the sun rose and the earth trembled with joy beneath her, and the third little tree knew that God's love had changed everything. It made the third little tree tall and strong. And every time people thought about the third little tree, they would think of God. 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 wanted, just sit tight and be happy because God is thinking of something better to give you!!
