WHEN DREAMS DON'T COME TRUE!
A
very long time ago on a mountain in a far away land just above the
tree line there was a bare spot that had been barren a very long
time when God said be barren no longer and three seedlings
broke forth from the ground and started to grow and spread forth their branches.
The
birds would come to sit and sing in their branches as the wind
blew and rustled their leaves; life was beautiful for the three trees
as they enjoyed their view over the forest and contemplated what fate
had in store for them. They watched the seasons come and go as they
grew tall and strong. They watched as the woodmen would come and
cut down the trees further down the mountain and take them
into the town below. They watched as the men made things out
of the trees.
Like all things they would dream at night as the
moon passed over them. They dreamed of what tomorrow would
bring into their lives, dreamed of what they would become when
the woodmen would come for them and they dreamed of how they
would live on and find their place in the future.
One day the
tree on the right said, "Someday I would like to become an
elegant treasure chest filled with precious gems, rings and
necklaces made of gold and silver. I could have intricate
carving all over me with a strong lock and key, and then
everyone would see how beautiful I am and treasure me
forever."
The tree on the left said, "Someday I shall be a
mighty ship and sail the oceans taking kings and queens around
the world. I will be so strong even the roaring waves will not
harm me. Everyone will know they are safe when they are in
me."
The center tree thought for a while and finally said, "I
want to stay on the hill and grow to be the straightest and
tallest tree on the mountain. People will look up at me and
see how high my branches reach and think of the heavens and
God and how close I am to reaching them. I want to be the
greatest tree of all time so people will always remember me."
The years and seasons passed by as the trees grew and dreamed
their dreams always believing their destiny's would come true
knowing God had brought them forth for a very special purpose.
Then one day the woodmen came passing the smaller trees to
look them over to see if they were fit to cut down and sell.
They looked at the tree on the right and said, "This one looks
strong and the carpenter will buy its wood for a good price."
Then he began to cut it down. The tree was very happy; he
could imagine the beautiful treasure chest the carpenter would
make of him and all his dreams would come true.
The woodmen
looked at the tree on the left next and said "This tree looks
perfect for the shipyard; they should give me a good price for
it." The tree was very happy, he could already see himself
sailing the oceans with a king standing on his deck.
The
woodmen then came to the middle tree and looked it over. The
tree was very frightened because if they cut it down then its
dream could never come true. The woodmen looked it over for a
while then said "This tree should make a lot of lumber so lets
cut it down and take it to the lumber yard."
The first tree
was taken to the carpenter who didn't have any call for a
treasure chest but did have a buyer for feed troughs so the
first tree became a feed trough for animals, filled with hay
and put in a manger. This was not at all what he had dreamed
and prayed for.
The second tree was made into a small fishing
boat. His dreams and prayers had come to an end. His fate was
not to sail the oceans and fight the roaring waves carrying
kings to far away places.
The middle tree was cut into large
pieces which were stored away and left all alone.
The
years passed away and the dreams were soon forgotten to be
remembered only as a passing memory. Then one day a man and a
woman came into the barnyard to rest for the night. The woman
was pregnant and gave birth that night. They placed the baby
on the hay inside the feedbox that had been made from the
first tree where the animals normally came to eat. Suddenly
the tree could feel the importance of what was happening and
knew it was holding the greatest treasure the world had every
seen.
More years passed and a group of men got into the small
fishing boat that had been made from the second tree and they
set out across the lake. One of the men was tired and fell
asleep but before long a mighty storm arose with winds a
blowing and waves roaring. The men were afraid and didn't
think the little boat was strong enough to hold back the wind
and water so they awoke the sleeping man who stood up and said
"Peace be still." Just then the storm left and the waves
became calm. The little boat swelled with pride because it
knew it was carrying the King of Kings and its prayers had
been answered.
After a very long time someone finally came and
got the third tree. It was carried through the streets by a
man everyone was mocking and hitting. When they reached the
top of a hill they stopped, there the man was nailed to the
tree which was then put in a hole in the ground as the tree
was raised towards they sky. The tree started to realize that
its dream had also come true because it was standing on top of
a hill and was as close to God as any tree can ever be because
Jesus the Christ was crucified on it.
Each tree had realized
its dream just not in the way they imagined it would happen.
When things are not going the way you planned remember the
three trees. Always know God has a plan for everything He
made, all we have to do is be obedient and patient. His ways
are not our ways and His thoughts are not our thoughts but
when we trust in Him we can know without a doubt our prayers
will be answered because God has a plan for every creature He
made and His way is always the best way.
This story came to me
signed "Author Unknown" and under a different title. I have
rewritten it to incorporate my own style but hope I have
stayed true to the original author's intent and meaning.
Bob Goulding © December 2006
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