Not The Way You Planned It

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 great
Treasure chest. I could be filled with gold, silver
And precious gems. I could be decorated with an
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. People
Will eel 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, 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 the carpenter would
Make him into a treasure chest.


At the second tree the woodsman said, 'This looks like
A strong tree. I will 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 men
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, God 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.