Dear brothers and sisters in the Lord, have you ever heard about “the story of three trees” (author unknown). It is simple and yet inspirational. It goes something like this:
Once upon a mountain top, three little trees stood and dreamed of what they wanted to become later on. The first little tree looked up to heaven and said, "I want to hold treasure. I want to be covered with gold and filled with precious stones. I'll be the most valuable treasure chest in the world!" The second little tree said, "I want to travel mighty waters and carry powerful kings. I'll be the noblest ship in the world!” The third little tree prays, “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. One day three wood cutters came along. The first wood cutter looked at the first tree and said, "This tree is perfect for me." With a swoop of his shining ax, the first tree was felled. The second wood cutter looked at the second tree with satisfaction, and the second tree was felled. The third tree shivered when the last wood cutter came by. Even though it was tall and pointed bravely to heaven, the merciless wood cutter hastily cut it down.
The first tree rejoiced when the wood cutter brought it to a carpenter's shop. Nevertheless, it was only made into a feed box for animals and was then placed in a barn. The second tree smiled when the wood cutter took it to a shipyard. However, it was cut and fit into a simple fishing boat and was then taken to a little lake. The third tree was confused when the wood cutter cut it into strong beams and left it in a lumberyard.
The years went by, and the trees forgot about their dreams. One day, a couple came to the barn. The wife gave birth to a baby and she carefully placed him upon the hay in the feed box which was made from the first tree. The baby’s name was JESUS. The first tree was shocked to learn that it was then holding 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 fell asleep. While they were out on the water, a great storm arose and danger was imminent. The sleeping man was awoken. He muttered a command the storm was gone! At this time, the tree knew that it had carried the King of Kings as it had wished.
One Friday morning, 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 Jesus had been crucified on it. Subsequently, people would think of God and be grateful to their Saviour every time they thought of the third tree.
Beloved, when things don't seem to be going your way, do you still believe that God has a plan for you? Even though we don't always know what God's plans are for us, it is enough to know that His ways are best for us. (see 三棵樹 for a Chinese translation)
Years passed. One day three wood cutters came along. The first wood cutter looked at the first tree and said, "This tree is perfect for me." With a swoop of his shining ax, the first tree was felled. The second wood cutter looked at the second tree with satisfaction, and the second tree was felled. The third tree shivered when the last wood cutter came by. Even though it was tall and pointed bravely to heaven, the merciless wood cutter hastily cut it down.
The first tree rejoiced when the wood cutter brought it to a carpenter's shop. Nevertheless, it was only made into a feed box for animals and was then placed in a barn. The second tree smiled when the wood cutter took it to a shipyard. However, it was cut and fit into a simple fishing boat and was then taken to a little lake. The third tree was confused when the wood cutter cut it into strong beams and left it in a lumberyard.
The years went by, and the trees forgot about their dreams. One day, a couple came to the barn. The wife gave birth to a baby and she carefully placed him upon the hay in the feed box which was made from the first tree. The baby’s name was JESUS. The first tree was shocked to learn that it was then holding 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 fell asleep. While they were out on the water, a great storm arose and danger was imminent. The sleeping man was awoken. He muttered a command the storm was gone! At this time, the tree knew that it had carried the King of Kings as it had wished.
One Friday morning, 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 Jesus had been crucified on it. Subsequently, people would think of God and be grateful to their Saviour every time they thought of the third tree.
Beloved, when things don't seem to be going your way, do you still believe that God has a plan for you? Even though we don't always know what God's plans are for us, it is enough to know that His ways are best for us. (see 三棵樹 for a Chinese translation)
