Once upon a mountain top,

3 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 whole world.

The second tree looked out at

the small stream trickling by on

it 's way to the ocean,

"I want to be traveling mighty

water and carry powerful kings.

I 'll be the strongest ship in the

world."

The third tree looked down to 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

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 rains came,

the sun shone...

And the little trees grew tall.

One day three woodcutters

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 I shall be made into a

beautiful chest. I shall hold

wonderful treasure! "

the first tree said.

The second woodcutter looked at

the

second tree and said,

"This tree is strong. It is

perfect for me."

With a swoop of his shining ax the

second tree fell.

"I shall be a strong ship for

mighty kings! "

The second tree said.

The third tree felt her heart sink

when she saw the third

woodcutter look her way.

She stood straight and tall and

pointed bravely to heaven.

But the woodcutter 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

woodcutter brought her to a

carpenter's shop.

The carpenter fashioned the tree

into a feed box 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

animals.

The second tree smiled when

the woodcutter brought 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 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 lumber yard.

"What happened? "

the once tall tree wondered.

"All I ever wanted was to

stay on the mountain top

and point toward 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 new born 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 that 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 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 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.

And suddenly the second tree

knew she was carrying the

King of heaven and earth.

One Wednesday 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 hands 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 want...

sit tight and be happy

because God is thinking

of something better to give you.

~~Author Unknown~~