Once there were three trees on a hill in the woods.
They were discussing their hopes and dreams when
thefirst tree said, "Someday I hope to be a treasurechest. I could be filled with gold, silver andprecious gems. I could be decorated with intricatecarving 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 watersand sail to the corners of the world. Everyone willfeel 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 mybranches, 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 wouldcome true, a group of woodsmen came upon the trees.
When one came to the first tree he said, "This lookslike a strong tree, I think I should be able to sellthe wood to a carpenter" ... and he began cutting itdown.
The tree was happy, because he knew that thecarpenter would make him into a treasure chest.
At the second tree a woodsman said, "This looks like astrong tree, I should be able to sell it to theshipyard."
The second tree was happy because he knewhe was on his way to becoming a mighty ship.
When the woodsmen came upon the third tree, the treewas frightened because he knew that if they cut himdown his dreams would not come true.
One of thewoodsmen said, "I don't need anything special from mytree so I'll take this one", and he cut it down.
When the first tree arrived at the carpenters, he wasmade into a feed box for animals. He was then placedin a barn and filled with hay. This was not at allwhat he had prayed for.
The second tree was cut andmade into a small fishing boat. His dreams of being amighty ship and carrying kings had come to an end.
Thethird tree was cut into large pieces and left alone inthe dark. The years went by, and the trees forgotabout 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 thefeed box that was made from the first tree.
The manwished that he could have made a crib for the baby,but this manger would have to do. The tree could feelthe importance of this event and knew that it had heldthe greatest treasure of all time. Years later, agroup of men got in the fishing boat made from thesecond 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 keepthe men safe. '
The men woke the sleeping man, and he stood and said "Peace" and the storm stopped. At thistime, the tree knew that it had carried the King ofKings in its boat.
Finally, someone came and got the third tree. It wascarried through the streets as the people mocked theman who was carrying it.
When they came to a stop, theman was nailed to the tree and raised in the air to die at the top of a hill.
When Sunday came, the treecame to realize that it was strong enough to stand atthe top of the hill and be as close to God as was possible, because Jesus had been crucified on it.
The moral of this story is that
when things don't seemto be going your way, always know that God has a plan for you.
If you place your trust in Him, He will giveyou great gifts.
Each of the trees got what they wanted, just not in the way they had imagined. '
We don't always know what God's plans are for us.
We justknow that His ways are not our ways, but His ways arealways best.
They were discussing their hopes and dreams when
thefirst tree said, "Someday I hope to be a treasurechest. I could be filled with gold, silver andprecious gems. I could be decorated with intricatecarving 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 watersand sail to the corners of the world. Everyone willfeel 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 mybranches, 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 wouldcome true, a group of woodsmen came upon the trees.
When one came to the first tree he said, "This lookslike a strong tree, I think I should be able to sellthe wood to a carpenter" ... and he began cutting itdown.
The tree was happy, because he knew that thecarpenter would make him into a treasure chest.
At the second tree a woodsman said, "This looks like astrong tree, I should be able to sell it to theshipyard."
The second tree was happy because he knewhe was on his way to becoming a mighty ship.
When the woodsmen came upon the third tree, the treewas frightened because he knew that if they cut himdown his dreams would not come true.
One of thewoodsmen said, "I don't need anything special from mytree so I'll take this one", and he cut it down.
When the first tree arrived at the carpenters, he wasmade into a feed box for animals. He was then placedin a barn and filled with hay. This was not at allwhat he had prayed for.
The second tree was cut andmade into a small fishing boat. His dreams of being amighty ship and carrying kings had come to an end.
Thethird tree was cut into large pieces and left alone inthe dark. The years went by, and the trees forgotabout 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 thefeed box that was made from the first tree.
The manwished that he could have made a crib for the baby,but this manger would have to do. The tree could feelthe importance of this event and knew that it had heldthe greatest treasure of all time. Years later, agroup of men got in the fishing boat made from thesecond 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 keepthe men safe. '
The men woke the sleeping man, and he stood and said "Peace" and the storm stopped. At thistime, the tree knew that it had carried the King ofKings in its boat.
Finally, someone came and got the third tree. It wascarried through the streets as the people mocked theman who was carrying it.
When they came to a stop, theman was nailed to the tree and raised in the air to die at the top of a hill.
When Sunday came, the treecame to realize that it was strong enough to stand atthe top of the hill and be as close to God as was possible, because Jesus had been crucified on it.
The moral of this story is that
when things don't seemto be going your way, always know that God has a plan for you.
If you place your trust in Him, He will giveyou great gifts.
Each of the trees got what they wanted, just not in the way they had imagined. '
We don't always know what God's plans are for us.
We justknow that His ways are not our ways, but His ways arealways best.
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