The Story of Three Trees
Three trees 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 the 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.
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 the 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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So very true. The waiting and wondering how to, and to carry on is the hard part. Faith gets you through it though. Thanks for the good read 46270 and all the best to you. [:)] 0 -
good read..[8D]..thks..Loko 0 -
Beautiful - Thanks for sharing with us. 0 -
Trees can't think, and as a parable it is a bit corny for my tastes- but the point is well taken and very good. [:)] 0 -
I like to keep an open mind. do we know tree's cant think?
I always believe anything is possible, unless proved impossible[:D]0 -
That was a good story ,something to pass on. thank's for sharing 0 -
Here I was hoping for a punchline. But I got biblestudy instead.[:(!] 0 -
Sheesh........enough of the sappy preaching, please?
Where do people get this stuff? From old men that sit around and feel meloncholy?
Merc0 -
actually I got it from my Preacher.[:D] 0 -
quote:Originally posted by Mercury
[From old men that sit around and feel meloncholy?
I have seen Melancholy, and even you would want to feel her. Don0 -
Good read,thanks for sharing[:)] 0 -
I will let my preacher know everyone liked his story. 0 -
nobody told you to read it[B)] 0 -
i enjoyed it very, much thanks for sharing 0 -
Great post, thank you! I'm going to copy and forward to many people on my address list![8D][8D][8D] 0 -
I told my preacher you guys liked it.
He has a computer, but I dont know if he really
is savvy on the computer.0 -
What a nice parable. I enjoyed it, too.
Here's another:
A deeply religious man found himself in a flood forecast. Everyone in the area was warned to evacuate. He prayed for God to take care of him, and felt secure about staying in his home.
The rains came and the water rose.
A jeep came by in the foot deep flood, and the driver told the man that the waters would continue to rise. The driver begged the man to come with him to safety.
The man said, "Thank you, but I'm staying home. God will look after me".
Nothing the driver said would get the man to budge, so the driver gave up and went on to rescue others.
The waters rose deeper and came into the first floor of his home.
A rescue boat came by. The captain begged the man to get into the boat and go to safe ground.
The man said, "Thank you, but I'm staying home. God will look after me".
Nothing the captain said would get the man to budge, so the driver gave up and went on to rescue others.
The water rose deeper, and engulfed the house. The man was trapped on his roof in the raging flood.
A rescue helicopter came by. A rescue worker was lowered down to the roof to help the man to safety. The worker pleaded with the man to come with him, and the man just said, ""Thank you, but I'm staying home. God will look after me".
Nothing the rescue worker said would get the man to budge, and they finally had to gave up and leave him there.
The water rose deeper, and the man was washed away in the flood and died.
When he got to heaven he said to God, "Lord, I have been your faithful servant all of my life. I have lived a good and decent life in Your name. I have prayed faithfully, and I trusted that you would take care of me in the flood. Why did you let me die?"
God replied, "I sent you a jeep, a boat and a helicopter. What did you expect of me"?0 -
thats good[:)] 0 -
quote:Originally posted by Mercury
Sheesh........enough of the sappy preaching, please?
Where do people get this stuff? From old men that sit around and feel meloncholy?
Merc
I got it in my e mail earlier today. From my good friend who is an atheist!
Good post 46270.[:)]0 -
I might be sitting around all day, But I wish
I could take credit for it.
BUT NOBODY SAID YOU HAD TO READ IT..0
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