Three Trees

This is a great little story I had came across and fits most of us to a tee......

“Long ago on a high mountain three trees were speaking about their future dreams. The first tree said, ‘I would really like to be made into a cradle, so that a newborn baby might rest comfortably and I could support that new life.’

The second tree looked down at a small stream that was flowing into a big river and said, ‘I want to be made into a great ship, so I can carry useful cargo to all corners of the world.’

The third tree viewed the valley from its mountaintop and said, ‘I don’t want to be made into anything. I just want to remain here and grow tall, so I can remind people to raise their eyes and think of God in heaven who loves them so much.’

Years passed and the trees grew tall and mighty. Then one day three woodcutters climbed the mountain in order to harvest some trees. As they cut down the first tree, one of the men said, ‘We will make this one into a manger.’ The tree shook its branches in protest; it did not want to become a feed box for animals. It had grander ideas for its beauty. But the woodcutters made it into a manger and sold it to an innkeeper in a small town called Bethlehem. And when the Lord Jesus was born, He was placed in that manger. Suddenly the tree realized it was cradling the greatest treasure the world had ever seen.

As the woodcutters cut down the second tree, they said, ‘We will make this into a fishing boat.’ The tree protested, but the woodcutters did as they planned and a man named Simon Peter bought it. And when the Lord Jesus needed a place from which to address the crowds that were pressing upon Him, He got into that little fishing boat and proclaimed the Good News. And the second tree suddenly realized it was carrying a most precious cargo, the King of heaven and earth.

The woodcutters then came to the third tree and said, ‘ The Romans are paying good money these days for wooden beams for their crosses. We will cut this tree into beams for a cross.’ The tree protested so hard that its leaves began to shake and then fall off onto the ground, but it was cut down, nonetheless, and made into beams.

One Friday morning the third tree was startled when its beams were taken from a woodpile and shoved onto the shoulders of a man. The tree flinched when soldiers nailed the man’s hands to the wood; the tree felt shamed and humiliated.

But early on Sunday morning, as the dawn appeared, the earth trembled with joy beneath the tree. The tree knew that the Lord of all the earth had been crucified on the Cross it made, but now God’s love had changed everything. And the Cross from that third tree stands tall to remind people to raise their eyes and think of the God in heaven who loves them.

And did you notice, how in each case, being cut down was the price that was paid for entering God’s glory?

“For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will save it.”

Father, I don't know Your plan, but let me be a tree today, whatever You would have me be. Make it so! Lord send me. Amen"