Three Trees

Just added to the line up for my Homemade Holidays On-line Workshop and while I can't show and tell you everything, I can give you a peek and share a story....

There is a Countdown project that is simple and probably my most favorite ever..great project to do with your kids...

and this project..do you know the story about the "Three Trees"?  Another very simple project but with a strong and meaningful message...a GREAT project to do with your kids..Here is the story:

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, He 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.

Comments

[SusanC]

Thank you for sharing!

[AliceM in OKC]

chilling -- yet wonderful story. thank you

[Hope Amen]

Beautiful story of the three trees.

[Jean McNulty]

Love this story...cannot wait to make one of my own:)

[Julie S]

What a wonderful story. I have a friend who would absolutely love a special handmade gift with this story included.

[Pam L]

Beautiful story, Stephanie. I had not heard this before, but will be sharing it with my grandchildren and PSR students. It lends itself to a great project for children as well. Thank you for sharing. I loved it!

[Toni Maddox]

I have to tell you, Stephanie, I have fallen in love with your work, with your blog, with your heart and with you!! You are amazing and I want you to know God is blessing so many through you. Thank you for what you do! So hoping to sign up for your class!! =] Many, many blessings to you!

[Amy Patterson]

Thank you for sharing this story. I have never heard it before but I will be sharing it with my boys.

[kadee]

So very true! And to think we get so caught up in our own world we forget we are in His! Thanks for sharing!

[MarieL]

I too never heard of this story. I will keep it and I can't wait to share it with my granddaughters.
Thank you for a wonderful story.

[LisaDV]

Absolutely beautiful. I am going to copy it to my blog with a link back to yours. Thank you.

[paula.strong]

Amen to that. I've read that long ago and love that story Thanks for the blog

[Wendy]

Love that story, thank you for sharing it!

[tracey bartlam]

I love your blog and your work. I have never heard that story before but it brought tears to my eyes. It is so profound, it absolutely stopped me in my tracks. Thank you so much for sharing it. Tracey, UK