This is from one of Carter's favorite stories from school this past year. He loved the fact that the trees had no idea how important they were, but they ended up being 3 of the most important trees ever. And it helps me to remember that God has a plan... it may seem like things are all discombobulated, but it's still a part of his plan for me. :)
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 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, 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, God 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
