Tale of three Trees

The first woodcutter looked at the first tree and said, "This tree is
beautiful. It is perfect for me." With a swoop of his shining axe, the
first tree fell. "Now I shall be made into a beautiful chest, I shall hold
wonderful treasure!" the first tree said.

The second woodcutter looked at the second tree and said, "This tree is
strong, it is perfect for me." With a swoop of his shining axe, the
second tree fell. "Now I shall sail mighty waters!" thought the second
tree. "I shall be a strong ship for mighty kings!"

The third tree felt her heart sink when the last woodcutter looked her way.
She stood straight and tall and pointed bravely to heaven. But the
woodcutter never even looked up. "Any kind of tree will do for me."
He muttered. With a sweep of his shining axe, the third tree fell.

The first tree rejoiced when the woodcutter brought her to a carpenter's
shop. But the carpenter fashioned the tree into a feedbox for animals. The
once beautiful tree was not covered with gold, nor with treasure. She was
coated with sawdust and filled with hay for hungry farm animals.

The second tree smiled when the woodcutter took her into 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. She was too small and too
weak to sail to an ocean, or even a river, instead she was taken to a little
lake.

Many many days and nights passed. The three trees nearly forgot their
dreams. But one night, golden starlight poured over the first tree as a
young woman placed her newborn baby in the feedbox. "I wish I could make a
cradle for him," her husband whispered. The mother squeezed his hand and
smiled as the starlight shone on the smooth and sturdy wood.
"This manger is beautiful," she said. And suddenly the first tree knew she
was holding the greatest treasure in the world.

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 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 she was carrying the king of heaven and
earth.

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 cruel.

But on Sunday morning, when the sun rose and the earth trembled with joy
beneath her, the third tree knew that God's love had changed everything. 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 the 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!

Author unknown