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i came across this story years ago from the column of Ricky Lo (Conversations With Ricky Lo at The Philippine Star).  According to him, Rio Diaz who was still alive then, sent this story to him.  The first time i read it, it gave me goosebumps.  It made me cry.  It brought me closer to God.  It renewed my faith, my hope..  So right then and there, i decided to cut it out and to save it, to store it in between the pages of my Bible.  Every now and then, I’d read it, and I’d still feel the same effects - goosebumps and tears.. 

so now, i am sharing this beautiful story to you, not only because it is Lent, but more so that all of us will come to trust in God, especially when things do not go our way.  Believe in Him, and never give up.

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 would be decorated with intricate carvings and everyone would see my 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 in my hull.” 

     Finally, the third tree said, “I want to grow to be the tallest and the 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 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 begun 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 woodsman 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 see anything special on this tree, but I’ll cut it anyway.”

When the first tree reached the carpenter, 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 that he planned. 

     The second tree was cut and made into a small fishing boat.  His dreams of becoming a mighty ship and carrying kings had come to an end. 

     The third tree was cut into two and left alone in the dark.

     The years went by and the trees forgot about their dreams.

     Then one day, a man and a woman came into 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 in the water, a great storm came 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…be still.”  And the storm stopped.  At this time, the tree knew it had carried the King of Kings in his boat.

     Finally, someone came and got the third tree.  It was carried to 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 the hill.  When Sunday came, the tree came to realize that it was strong enough to stand at the hill and be as close to God as was possible because Jesus had been crucified on it.

MESSAGE:  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 imagined.  We don’t always know know what God’s plans are for us.  We just know that His ways are not our ways, but His ways are always the best.