The Three Trees

Once there were three trees on a hill in the woods.  They were discussing their hopes & dreams  when the first tree said, "Someday I hope to be  a treasure chest. I could be filled with gold, silver & precious gems. I could be decorated  with intricate carvings and everyone  would see the beauty." Then the second tree said, "Someday I will  be a mighty ship. I will take kings & 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 & 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." He then 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 another 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 yet another woodsman came  upon the third tree, the tree became frightened  because he knew that if they cut him down his  dream would not come true. The woodsman  said, "I really don't need anything special  from the tree, but I'll take this one anyway."  He then began to 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  and queens had come to an end. The third tree was  cut into large pieces & left alone in a pile. 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 into the fishing boat  made from the second tree. One of the men grew  tired and fell asleep. 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 afloat and safe. The  fishermen woke the sleeping man, and he stood   and said, "peace" and the storm calmed. At this time,  the tree knew that it had carried the King of kings  in it's boat. Finally, someone had come for the large pieces of the  third tree. It was carried through the streets as  spectators that lined the path, cursed and mocked the  man who carried it. When they came to a stop,  the man was nailed to the tree, and for all to see, was  raised in the air and mounted atop the hill  where the man would die. 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,  the Son of God, had been crucified on it. *The moral of this story is: 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 imagined. Merry Christmas dear ones. May your New Year be bright with Christ!