Three Trees Poem

Three Trees Poem

Thanks to a parishioner this is a lovely story for the kids

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 plan are for us. We just know that His Ways  are not our ways, but His ways are always best.
Tell this onto your children and grandchildren

May your day be blessed. And until we meet again, may God cradle you in the  palm of His hand.