Thanks for posting this Angel.  It is good.

Vicki

----- Original Message -----
From: "Angel" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Thursday, July 21, 2005 5:17 AM
Subject: [ECHURCH-USA] Trees


> > 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
> > and 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 should be
> > able to sell the wood to a carpenter," and he began cutting it down.
> > The tree was happy, because he knew that the carpenter would make him
> > into a treasure chest.
> >
> > At the second tree the 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 they cut him down his dreams would not come
> > true. One of the woodsmen said, "I don't need anything special from
> > my tree, 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 woman 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 have 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 said "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. When Sunday came, 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 Jesus 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.
> >
>