header image

Sunday, April 08, 2007

little tree

Easter Sunday Post ~ The Legend of the Three Trees

This is a story I like to read to little ones at Easter

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 its way to the ocean. "I want to travel mighty waters and carry 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 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. "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 woodcutter looked 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. But 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 farm animals.

The second tree smiled when the woodcutter took her to a shipyard, but no mighty 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 to 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 lumberyard. "What happened?" The once tall tree wondered. "All I ever wanted was to stay on the mountain top and point to God..."

Many, 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 she 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 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 Friday morning, the third tree was startled when her beams were yanked from the forgotten woodpile. 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.

Jeremiah 29:11-13
Isaiah 55:8-9

Happy Easter, everyone. He is risen.

27 heads are better than one . . .

Blogger WILLIAM said...

Happy Easter Susie.

 
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Thank you Susie for the beautiful story. Happy Easter.

 
Blogger Squirl said...

Happy Easter Sunday, Sister.

I love you!

 
Blogger Ortizzle said...

Happy Easter, Susie. Loved the story. :-)

 
Blogger Katy Barzedor said...

Much love to you, sis! Happy Easter.

*rolls festive egg across floor in front of very confused Biscuit*

 
Blogger Nina said...

Happy Easter Susie, Jif, and LG.
xxooxx

 
Blogger Judypatooote said...

HAPPY EASTER Susie......thanks for your beautiful story......

 

Happy Easter, Susie, Jif, LG and VBD.

 
Anonymous Anonymous said...

He is risen indeed!

Happy Easter, Fairchilds!

 
Blogger eclectic said...

Happy Easter, Fairchilds!

 
Blogger Kranki said...

Happy Easter Susie and Jif and LG and Biscuit. What a great story.

 
Blogger Naomi said...

He Is Risen Indeed! Alleluia!

Hugs to you! Here's praying all goes well!

 
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Happy Easter honey. The story is lovely. I hope your day is filled with joy and peace.

 
Blogger MrsDoF said...

This story is in a book by Angela Elwell Hunt resting on my 'For Keeps' shelf.
Plus, I donated a copy to the church library. It has been read at least twice during Children's Story time.

Always glad to see it in a different venue because more folks get a chance to learn about it.

Happy Easter!

 
Blogger Mr. Bloggerific Himself said...

No bonnets on this end this year. The nieces didn't get to come. But I did manage to post an Easter photo :)

 
Blogger sometrouble said...

Happy Easter! Thanks for sharing the story...it was beautiful.

 
Blogger I'm not here. said...

xxx

 
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Happy Easter to you, Jif, LG and Biscuit! I hope you had a lovely day together. Thank you post the tree post - I can't tell you how good it's been to get so many posts lately. xx

 
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Thanks for posting that story. I had not heard it before, and look forward to sharing it wih others.

 
Anonymous Anonymous said...

He is risen, indeed!

Sorry I'm late. Love and hugs to you. God bless you, my friend.

 
Anonymous Anonymous said...

..how I love coming here!..Amen Susie...

 
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Anonymous is me...whacky..how did that happen...oh well..hugs!

 
Blogger Unknown said...

That is a wonderful story, Susie.

Easter blessings and much shalom!

 
Blogger Effie said...

love the story!thanks!

Happy Easter!

 
Blogger lawyerchik said...

Dangit, Susie, you aren't supposed to make me cry at work.....

What a beautiful story!

(P.S. word verification word is ynkrcubz)

 
Blogger Andrea said...

Is it too late to say "He is risen indeed!" ? What a fantastic story.

 
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Andrea- never too late.

He is risen indeed!

 


Post a Comment

<< Home