MachNU
02-01-2006, 07:28 AM
SOmeone sent this to me, and i thought it was one of the truest things i have ever read, and it really makes you think. Or maybe its just me!
The Three Trees
>
> 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.
>
> Please keep this moving... pass it on, so God may
> inspire more people on the way.
>
> May your day be blessed. And until we meet again, may
> God cradle you in the palm of His hand.
The Three Trees
>
> 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.
>
> Please keep this moving... pass it on, so God may
> inspire more people on the way.
>
> May your day be blessed. And until we meet again, may
> God cradle you in the palm of His hand.