~ God Knows Best! ~
The source of the original version of this material is unknown—apparently written by that prolific author Anonymous.
The Three Trees ~ Once upon a mountain top, three tree saplings dreamed of what they wanted to be when they grew up. The first little tree looked up at the stars and said: “I want to hold treasure. I want to be covered with gold and filled with precious stones. I’ll be the most beautiful treasure chest in the world!” The second little tree looked out at the small stream trickling by on its way to the ocean. “I want to be traveling mighty waters and carrying powerful kings. I’ll be the strongest ship in the world!” The third little tree looked down into the valley below where busy men and women worked in a busy town. “I don’t want to leave the mountain top at all. I want to grow so tall that when people stop to 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. The rains came, the sun shone, and over time the little trees grew tall and matured. One day loggers arrived on the mountain. They looked at the first tree and said, “This tree is beautiful. It is perfect.” So, the first tree was fallen and thought to himself, “now I shall be made into a beautiful chest, I shall hold wonderful treasure!” Then the lumberjacks looked at the second tree and said, “This tree is strong. It is perfect.” And that tree was also harvested. The second tree thought, “now I shall sail mighty waters! I shall be a strong ship for mighty kings!” The third tree felt his heart sink when the loggers looked at him. He stood straight and tall and pointed bravely to heaven—hoping they would leave him alone. But the loggers never even looked up. They were clearing the remaining trees for surplus utility wood. And so, all three trees were taken.
Later, the first tree rejoiced when he was brought to a carpenter’s shop. But to his dismay he was fashioned into a feedbox for animals. This once beautiful tree was not covered with gold, nor with treasure, but was filled with hay for hungry farm animals. The second tree smiled when he was taken to a shipyard. But to his disappointment rather than being made into a mighty sailing ship he was hammered and sawed into a simple fishing boat. He was considered too small and weak to sail through the oceans. The third tree was confused when he was cut into strong beams and left in a lumberyard for some random future use. The once tall tree wondered, “What happened? All I ever wanted was to stay on the mountain top and point to God.”
Many, many days and nights passed. The three trees nearly forgot their dreams. But one night, bright starlight flooded the first tree as Mary placed her newborn baby in the feedbox. “I wish I could make a cradle for him,” Joseph whispered. The mother squeezed his hand and smiled as light from that bright star illuminated the manger. Now, this first tree was holding the greatest treasure in the world—far beyond his little dreams! (cf. Luke 2:1-20)
On another occasion a tired itinerant preacher and his friends crowded into the old fishing boat. The preacher fell asleep as the second tree quietly sailed out into the lake. Soon a thundering and thrashing storm arose. The wood from the second tree worried that he did not have the strength to carry so many passengers safely through this terrific storm. The preacher woke, stood up, stretched out His hand, and said, “Peace, be still!” The storm stopped immediately. This second tree was not carrying an earthly king but the King of kings and Lord of lords! (cf. Luke 4:35-41)
One Friday morning, the wood from the third tree was startled when his beams were yanked from the forgotten woodpile. He flinched as He was carried through an angry jeering crowd. He shuddered when soldiers nailed a Man’s hands to his. He felt ugly and harsh and cruel. But on Sunday morning, the earth trembled beneath and he knew that God’s love had changed everything. From that time on, every time people thought of that tree, they would think of God. His role in the plan of God was far beyond his meager thoughts, hopes, and dreams! (cf. Matthew 27:45-54)
“We [Christians] know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose” (Romans 8:28). “Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails” (Proverbs 19:21).
The next time you feel down because you didn’t get what you want, sit tight and be joyful because God is thinking of something better to give you.
Comment ~ Trees have a prominent place in Scripture. For example, the first Psalm, which is almost like a prolog for the Book of Psalms likens the Godly person to a tree. The book “GOD’S CHILD: Like A Tree” has been called “the definitive work on Psalm One” by a well-known theologian. (https://books2read.com/GodsChild)
~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW blog.
