The Legend of the Three Trees

Once upon a time, three small trees grew on top of a mountain. They often dreamed of what they would become when they grew up.

The first small tree gazed up at the stars sparkling like diamonds in the sky and said, “When I grow up, I want to be a treasure chest.”

“I will hold gold and precious gems! And I will bethe most beautiful treasurechest in the whole world!”

The second small tree gazed at the stream below winding down to the ocean.

“I want to be a strong sailing ship," the third little tree dreamed.

“I want to sail to many far places, and I will carry powerful kings and queens to all corners of the world!.

I will be the mightiest ship in all the world!”

Finally, the third little tree looked below at the busy little town full of people rushing to and fro.

“As for me, I don’t want to leave the top of this mountain,”he declared.

“All I want is to grow so tall that when people look up at me,

they will turn their gaze to heaven and think of God,” the third tree said wistfully.

“I will be the tallest tree in the world and people will always remember me!”

Several years passed. The little trees grew tall and strong.

One day, three woodcutterscame to the top ofthe mountain.

The first woodcutterlooked at the first tree

and said, “This tree is perfect

for me. I’m sure I can sell

the wood to a carpenter!"

He cut down the first tall tree with his big

shining axe.

The first treewas so happy.

He thought, “Now I will be made into

a beautiful treasure chest!”

“Surely I shall hold gold and silver

and precious stones!"

The second woodcuttertook one look at the

second tree and and said,

“This tree is strong and tall.

It will do very well for me.

I will be able to sell it to the

shipyard!”

With one swoop of the woodcutter’s

mighty axe,the second tree

fell.

The second treewas so happy

because he thought,“Surely now I shall sail

the seven seasand bring

mighty kingsto the far corners

of the earth!I shall be the mightiestship in all the world!”

The third tree was frightened and

sad when the third woodcutter looked at him.It hoped the

woodcutter wouldsee how tall he was

and look to heaven.

But the woodcutternever even looked

at the sky. “Any tree will do for

me," the woodcutter said.

And so the dreams of the third tree died with one swoop of the woodcutter’s shining axe.

Imbis na kahon na ang siyang hawak ay

ginto at mamahaling bato, ang dating

magandang puno ay naging lalagyan ng damo para sa

pagkain ng mga hayop.

Oh how happy the first treewas when he was brought

to the carpenter’s shop! But the carpenter

had a different plan!

Instead of gold and precious gems, the tree was covered with sawdust and filled with hay forhungry animals.

Instead of a treasure chest,the once tall and proud treewas made into a feed box foranimals.

The second tree was overjoyed when it was

brought into a shipyard.

All its hopes and dreams were coming true!

But no mighty sailing ships were made in the shipyard that day.

The once tall and mighty tree was cut and made into a smallfishing boat.

His dream of being a strong sailing ship lay dead on the shipyard floor.

Meanwhile the third tree was cut and left in the lumberyard.

“What happened?" he asked sad and confused. “All I ever wanted was to stay on the mountaintop

and point to God."

The years passed and the three trees forgot their ambitious dreams and plans.

But one dark night, when a bright star shone through the window, a man and a woman came into the barn.

“If only I could make a crib," the father said mournfully after the baby was born.

The beautiful mother smiled and comforted him, “This manger will do beautifully! Look at how sturdy and smooth the wood is!”

At that wonderful and magical moment, the first tree realized with amazement that he was holding the greatest treasure of all time!

Years later, some men climbed into the small boat made from the second tree.

One man was tired and fell asleep.

While they were out on the water a storm arose. The tree shuddered and knew he was too smalland weak to carry the fisherman safely through the storm.

He stood, stretched out his hand and said, “Peace." The wind and rain stopped.

The tired sleeping man awakened.

At that moment, the second tree realized with awe

that he was carrying the King of Kings!

Finally one Friday, someone yanked the third tree off the lumberyard floor.

It was carried through the streets as the people mocked the man carrying him. The third tree cringed as soldiers nailed a man’s hands and feet on it.

It felt ugly and cruel and very sad.

When Sunday came, the sun rose and the third tree realized that everything changed. It was a beautiful morning! Every time people would see him, they would think of God!

We may dream, make plans and try to make them come true. If things don’t go as you planned, trust in the Lord!

God has a plan for you.

Know that His plans and His ways are always better than your own! His ways are always best!

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