The Parable of the Trees

[paulnoel]

[FONT=&quot]The Parable of the Trees[/FONT]​

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[FONT=&quot]Three little trees stood and [FONT=&quot]dreamed of what they wanted to become when they grew up.[/FONT][/FONT]​

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The first little tree looked up at the stars and said:[/FONT]​

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"I want to hold treasure. I want to be covered with gold [FONT=&quot]
and filled with precious stones. I'll be the most
beautiful treasure chest in the world!"[/FONT][/FONT]​

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The second little tree looked out at the small stream [FONT=&quot]
trickling by on its way to the ocean. [/FONT][/FONT]​

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"I want to be travelling mighty waters and carrying powerful kings. [FONT=&quot]
I'll be the strongest ship in the world!"[/FONT][/FONT]​

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The third little tree looked down into the valley below [FONT=&quot]where busy men and women worked in a busy town.

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[FONT=&quot]"I don't want to leave the mountain top at all. [/FONT]​

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I want to grow so tall that when people stop to look at me, [FONT=&quot]they'll raise their eyes to heaven and think of God. [/FONT][/FONT]​

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I will be the tallest tree in the world."[/FONT]​

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Many years passed.

The rain came, the sun shone, and the [FONT=&quot]little trees grew tall. [/FONT][/FONT]​

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One day three woodcutters climbed the mountain.[/FONT]​

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The first woodcutter looked at the first tree and said,
[FONT=&quot]"This tree is beautiful. It is perfect for me."With a swoop of his shining axe, the first tree fell. [/FONT][/FONT]​

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"Now I shall be made into a beautiful chest, I shall hold
[FONT=&quot]wonderful treasure!"The first tree said.[/FONT][/FONT]​

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The second woodcutter looked at the second tree [FONT=&quot]
and said, "This tree is strong. It is perfect for me."

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[FONT=&quot]With a swoop of his shining axe, the second tree fell.[/FONT]​

[FONT=&quot]"Now I shall sail mighty waters!" thought the second [FONT=&quot]tree. [/FONT][/FONT]​

[FONT=&quot]"I shall be a strong ship for mighty kings!"[/FONT]​

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The third tree felt her heart sink when the last [FONT=&quot]woodcutter looked her way. She stood straight and tall and pointed bravely to heaven.[/FONT][/FONT]​

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But the woodcutter never even looked up. "Any kind [FONT=&quot]
of tree will do for me." He muttered. With a swoop of his shining axe,
the third tree fell.[/FONT][/FONT]​

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The first tree rejoiced when the woodcutter brought [FONT=&quot]her to a carpenter's shop. [/FONT][/FONT]​

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But the carpenter fashioned [FONT=&quot]the tree into a feed box for animals.[/FONT][/FONT]​

[FONT=&quot]The once beautiful tree was not covered with gold, [FONT=&quot]
or with treasure. She was coated with saw dust and
filled with hay for hungry farm animals.[/FONT][/FONT]​

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The second tree smiled when the woodcutter took [FONT=&quot]her to a shipyard,
but no mighty sailing ship was made that day.
Instead the once strong tree was hammered and sawed into a simple fishing boat. [/FONT][/FONT]​

[FONT=&quot]She was too small and too weak to sail to an ocean, or even a river; instead [FONT=&quot]she was taken to a little lake.[/FONT][/FONT]​

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The third tree was confused when the woodcutter cut [FONT=&quot]her into strong beams and left her in a lumberyard.

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[FONT=&quot]"What happened?" The once tall tree wondered. [/FONT]​

[FONT=&quot]"All I ever wanted was to stay on the mountain top and point [FONT=&quot]
to God..."[/FONT][/FONT]​

[FONT=&quot]
Many, many days and night passed. The three trees [FONT=&quot]
nearly forgot their dreams.[/FONT][/FONT]​

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But one night, golden starlight poured over the first tree [FONT=&quot]
as a young woman placed her newborn baby in the feed box.[/FONT][/FONT]​

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"I wish I could make a cradle for him." her husband Joseph
[FONT=&quot]whispered.The mother squeezed his hand and smiled [/FONT][FONT=&quot]
as the starlight shone on the smooth and the sturdy
wood. [/FONT][/FONT]​

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"This manger is beautiful" she said.[/FONT]​

[FONT=&quot]And suddenly the first tree knew he was holding the [/FONT][FONT=&quot]
greatest treasure in the world.[/FONT]​

(Luke 2:7 Niv) ​

And she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.​

One evening a tired traveller and his friends crowded into the old fishing boat. The traveller fell asleep as the second tree quietly sailed out into the lake. Soon a thundering and thrashing storm arose. ​

The little tree shuddered. She knew she did not have the strength to
carry so many passengers safely through with the wind and the rain.​

The tired man awakened. He stood up, stretched out his hand, and said, "Peace." The storm stopped as quickly as it had begun.​

And suddenly the second tree knew he was carrying the
king of heaven and earth.​

(Luke 8:24-27 Niv)


Without warning, a furious storm came up on the lake, so that the waves swept over the boat. But Jesus was sleeping. The disciples went and woke him, saying, "Lord, save us! We're going to drown!" He replied, "You of little faith, why are you so afraid?" Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the waves, and it was completely calm. The men were amazed and asked, "What kind of man is this? Even the winds and the waves obey him!"
​

One Friday morning, the third tree was startled when her beams were yanked from the forgotten woodpile. She flinched as she was carried through an angry jeering crowd.She shuddered when soldiers nailed a man's hands to her.She felt ugly and harsh and cruel.​

(Mark 15:16-20 Niv)​

They put a purple robe on him, then twisted together a crown of thorns and set it on him. And they began to call out to him, Hail, king of the Jews! Again and again they struck him on the head with a staff and spat on him. Falling on their knees, they paid homage to him. And when they had mocked him, they took off the purple robe and put his own clothes on him. Then they led him out to crucify him.​

But on Sunday morning, when the sun rose and the
earth tremble with joy beneath her, ​

The third tree knew that God's love had changed everything.​

(Matthew 28:1-6 Niv)​

After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb. There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men. The angel said to the women; do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay.

It had made the third tree strong. And every time people thought of the third tree, they would think of God.​

That was better than being the tallest tree in the world.​

So next time you feel down because you didn't get what
you want, just sit tight and be happy because God is
thinking of something better to give you



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[asianangel]

That is so beautiful it brought tears to my eyes...thank you for this!!

 

[Jakihe]

Such a beautiful story and it's true.....we have to always be patient and believe that God has something better in store for us.

 

[paulnoel]

Such a beautiful story and it's true.....we have to always be patient and believe that God has something better in store for us.

Yes you are so right we do have to be patient-In fact theses verses from Psalm 40:1-3 comes to mind

I waited patiently for the LORD; he turned to me and heard my cry.He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand.He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear and put their trust in the LORD.

Paul