God often gives us more than we hope or pray for

The following story is entitled “Three Trees.” The author is unknown.

On a mountaintop, three small trees stood and dreamed of what they wanted to become when they grew up. The first little tree looked up at the stars and said, “I want to be covered with gold and filled with treasure of precious stones. I’ll be the most beautiful treasure chest in the world!”

Then the second tree said, “Someday I want to be a mighty ship. I will take kings and queens across the deep waters. Everyone will feel safe in me because of the strength of my hull.”

Finally the third tree said, “I don’t want to leave the mountaintop at all. I want to grow so tall that when people stop to look at me, they’ll raise their eyes to heaven and think of God. I want to be the tallest tree in the world.”

Years passed and the three trees grew tall. One day three woodsmen climbed the mountain. The first woodcutter looked at the first tree and said, “This tree is beautiful. It is perfect for me.” With a swoop of his shining ax, the first tree fell. “Now they will make me into a beautiful chest. I will hold enormous treasure!” the first tree said.

At the second tree, the woodsman said, “This looks like a strong tree. I can sell it to the shipyard.” The second tree was happy because he knew he would become a mighty ship.

The third tree’s heart sunk when the last woodsman looked at him. He stood straight and tall and pointed bravely to heaven, but the woodcutter never noticed. “Any kind of tree will do for me,” he muttered. With a swoop of his shining ax, the third tree fell.

The first tree rejoiced when they brought him to a carpenter’s shop. However, the carpenter fashioned the tree into a feed box for animals. The once beautiful tree was not covered with gold but filled with hay for hungry farm animals.

The shipbuilders cut the second tree and made into a small fishing boat. His dreams of being a mighty ship carrying royalty had ended. They cut the third tree into large pieces, and placed the boards in a lumberyard. “What happened?” the once tall tree wondered. “All I ever wanted was to stay on the mountain and point to God.”

The years went by and the trees forgot their dreams. One night, as the golden starlight shown, a young woman placed her newborn baby in the feed box. “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 sturdy wood. “This manger is beautiful,” she said. The first tree knew he was holding the greatest treasure in the world.

Years later, a group of men got into a fishing boat made from the second tree. One of them was tired and went to sleep. 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. He stood and said, “Peace” and the storm stopped. The tree knew that he had carried the King of Kings.

Finally, someone came and got the third tree. A man carried it through the streets as the people mocked him. When they came to the top of the hill, they nailed the man to the tree and raised him in the air to die. When Sunday came, the tree came to realize that every time people thought of the third tree, they would think of God’s love because he held the crucified Lord.

When you feel down because you did not get what you prayed for, sit tight and be content because God is thinking of something better to give you.