[Friends] 3 trees

[StrictMaster4RT@aol.com]

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. 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 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 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. 

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 in 
the way they had 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 best.


    


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