Three Trees
    
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, 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'll be able to sell the wood to a
carpenter" ....and he began cutting it down.

  The tree was a treasure chest.
    
At the second tree a 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 he were cut down, his
dreams would not come true.  A woodsmen said, "I don't need
anything special from my tree so 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 women 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've 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 shouted "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.  On Sunday, 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 His Son 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.
    
     Author Unknown