Jeremiah 29: 11 - '...to give you a future and a hope...'
The first tree looked up to the stars saying, "I want to hold treasure; I want to be covered with gold and precious stones!" "I'll be the most beautiful treasure chest the world has ever seen!"
The second tree said, "I want to be traveling mighty waters and powerful kings, I'll be the most powerful ship ever built!" The third tree stood tall, gazing into heaven saying, "I do not wish to leave this mountain at all...instead I want to be so tall, that when people from below gaze upon me, they will look to God."
Years had past and one day, 3 woodcutters climbed the mountain top...the first woodcutter saw the first tree and said, "This is perfect for me." With one swipe of the blade, the tree fell. "Now I shall become a great treasure chest," the first tree said.
The second woodcutter looked at the second tree and said, "This tree is strong enough for me," and with one swipe, the second tree fell. It said, "I will sail the mighty waters very soon!"
The third woodcutter stepped to the third tree, which stretched itself out firm yet nervously to the heavens for it didn't want to be cut down. The cutter mumbled, "I don't care which tree I cut, this will have to do." Much to the amazement of the third tree, down it came with a few strikes of the ax.
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 to 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 on an ocean, or even a river; instead, she was taken to a little lake.
The third tree was confused when the woodcutter cut her into strong beams and left her in a lumberyard.
“What happened?” the once tall tree wondered. “All I ever wanted was to stay on the mountain top and point to God...”
Many, many days and night 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. (Luke 2:12)
“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 the sturdy wood. “This manger is beautiful,” she said.
And suddenly the first tree knew he was holding the greatest treasure in the world.
One evening a tired traveler and his friends crowded into the old fishing boat. The traveler 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 with 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. (Mark 4:39)
And suddenly the second tree knew he 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 harsh and cruel.
But on Sunday morning, when the sun rose and the earth tremble with joy beneath her, the third tree knew that God’s love had changed everything. (Matt. 28:7)
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.
The next time you feel down because you didn’t get what you want, sit tight and be happy because God is thinking of something better to give you.
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