[StBernard] The Three Trees

[Westley Annis]

The Three Trees 

Once upon a mountain top, three little 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 hold treasure. I want to be covered with gold
and filled with precious stones. I'll be the most beautiful treasure chest
in the world!" The second little tree looked out at the small stream
trickling by on it's way to the ocean. " I want to be traveling mighty
waters and carrying powerful kings. I'll be the strongest ship in the world!
The third little tree looked down into the valley below where busy men and
women worked in a busy town. I don't want to leave the mountain top 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 will be the tallest tree in the
world. 

Years, passed. The rain came, the sun shone and the little trees grew tall.
One day three wood cutters climbed the mountain. The first wood cutter
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 I shall
make a beautiful chest, I shall hold wonderful treasure!" the first tree
said. 

The second wood cutter looked at the second tree and said, "This tree is
strong. It's perfect for me." With a swoop of his shining ax, the second
tree fell. "Now I shall sail mighty waters!" thought the second tree. " I
shall be a strong ship for mighty kings!" 

The third tree felt her heart sink when the last wood cutter looked her way.
She stood straight and tall and pointed bravely to heaven. But the wood
cutter never even looked up. "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 the wood cutter brought her to a carpenter's
shop. But the carpenter fashioned the tree into a feed box for animals. The
once beautiful tree was not covered with gold, or treasure. She was coated
with saw dust and filled with hay for hungry farm animals. The second tree
smiled when the wood cutter took her to a shipyard, but no mighty sailing
ship was made that day. Instead the once strong tree was hammered and awed
into a simple fishing boat. She was too small and too weak to sail to an
ocean, or even a river, instead she was taken to a little lake. The third
tree was confused when the wood cutter 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 days and nights 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 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. 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 a thrashing storm arose. The little tree
shuddered. She new she did not have the strength to carry so many passengers
safely through the wind and the rain. The tired man awoke. He stood up,
stretched out his hand, and said, "Peace." The storm stopped as quickly as
it had begun. 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 wood pile. She flinched as she was carried through an
angry jeering crowd. She shuddered when soldiers nailed a man's hand to her.
She felt ugly and harsh and cruel. But on Sunday morning, when the sun rose
and the earth trembled with joy beneath her, the third tree knew that God's
love had changed everything. 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 wanted, sit
tight and be happy because God is thinking of something better to give you.

Merry Christmas, Everybody