INSPIRATIONAL STORIES

THREE LITTLE TREES

YOU REAP WHAT YOU SOW


 

 

 

 

 

 

  

           Three Little Trees

Sent to us, author unknown

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 it's way to the ocean. " I want to be traveling mighty waters and caring 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. The rain came, the sun shone and the little trees grew tall. One day three wood cutters climbed the mountain. The first wood cutter looked at the first tree and said, "This tree is beautiful. It is perfect for me." With a swoop of his shinning ax, the first tree fell. "Now I shall make a beautiful chest, I shall hold wonderful treasure!" the first tree said.

The second wood cutter looked at the second tree and said, "This tree is strong. It's perfect for me." With a swoop of his shinning 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 wood cutter looked her way. She stood straight and tall and pointed bravely to heaven. But the wood cutter never even looked up. "Any kind of tree will do for me." He muttered. With a swoop of his shinning ax, the third tree fell.

The fist tree rejoiced when the wood cutter 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, or treasure. She was coated with saw dust and filled with hay for hungry farm animals. The second tree smiled when the wood cutter took her to a shipyard, but no mighty sailing ship was made that day. Instead the one strong tree was hammered and awed 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 wood cutter 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 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 cold 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 he 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 a thrashing storm arose. The little tree shuddered. She new she did not have the strength to carry so many passengers safely through the wind and the rain. The tired man awoke. 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 he was carrying the king of heaven and earth.

One Friday morning, the third tree was startled when her beams were yanked from the forgotten wood pile. She flinched as she was carried through and angry jeering crowd. She shuddered when soldiers nailed a man's hand 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.

The next time you feel down because you didn't get what you wanted, sit tight and be happy because God is thinking of something better to give you.

 

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YOU REAP WHAT YOU SOW 

(This was sent to us, author unknown)

Good morning said a woman as she walked up to the man sitting on ground.

The man slowly looked up. 

 This was a woman clearly accustomed to the finer things of life. Her coat was new.. She looked like she had never missed a meal in her life. 

 His first thought was that she wanted to make fun of him, like so many others had done before..  "Leave me alone," he growled.... 

 To his amazement, the woman continued standing 

 She was smiling -- her even white teeth displayed in dazzling rows. "Are you hungry?" she asked. 

 "No," he answered sarcastically.. "I've just come from dining with the president. Now go away." 

 The woman's smile became even broader. Suddenly the man felt a gentle hand under his arm.  

 "What are you doing, lady?" the man asked angrily "I said to leave me alone. 

 Just then a policeman came up. "Is there any problem, ma'am?" he asked.. 

 "No problem here, officer," the woman answered. "I'm just trying to get this man to his feet. Will you help me?" 

 The officer scratched his head.  "That's old Jack. He's been a fixture around here for a couple of years. What do you want with him?" 

"See that cafeteria over there?" she asked. "I'm going to get him something to eat and get him out of the cold for awhile."  

 "Are you crazy, lady?" the homeless man resisted "I don't want to go in there!"  Then he felt strong hands grab his other arm and lift him up.  "Let me go, officer. I didn't do anything."

" This is a good deal for you, Jack" the officer answered. "Don't blow it."  

 Finally, and with some difficulty, the woman and the police officer got Jack into the cafeteria and sat him at a table in a remote corner.  It was the middle of the morning, so most of the breakfast crowd had already left and the lunch bunch had not yet arrived... 

 The manager strode across the cafeteria and stood by his table.  "What's going on here, officer?" he asked.  "What is all this, is this man in trouble?" 

 "This lady brought this man in here to be fed," the policeman answered.  

 "Not in here!" the manager replied angrily. "Having a person like that here is bad for business.." 

 Old Jack smiled a toothless grin.  "See, lady. I told you so. Now if you'll let me go. I didn't want to come here in the first place."    

 The woman turned to the cafeteria manager and smiled... "Sir, are you familiar with Eddy and Associates, the banking firm down the street?"  

 "Of course I am," the manager answered impatiently. "They hold their weekly meetings in one of my banquet rooms."  

 "And do you make a goodly amount of money providing food at these weekly meetings?" 

 "What business is that of yours?" 

 I, sir, am Penelope Eddy, president and CEO of the company." 

 "Oh."  

 The woman smiled again. "I thought that might make a difference."  She glanced at the cop who was busy stifling a giggle. "Would you like to join us in a cup of coffee and a meal, officer?" 

 "No thanks, ma'am," the officer replied. "I'm on duty."  

 "Then, perhaps, a cup of coffee to go?"

 "Yes, mam. That would be very nice."  

 The cafeteria manager turned on his heel, "I'll get your coffee for you right away, officer."  

 The officer watched him walk away. "You certainly put him in his place," he said. 

 "That was not my intent. Believe it or not, I have a reason for all this."    

She sat down at the table across from her amazed dinner guest. She stared at him intently..  "Jack, do you remember me?" 

 Old Jack searched her face with his old, rheumy eyes.  "I think so -- I mean you do look familiar." 

 "I'm a little older perhaps," she said. "Maybe I've even filled out more than in my younger days when you worked here, and I came through that very door, cold and hungry." 

 "Ma'am?" the officer said questioningly.  He couldn't believe that such a magnificently turned out woman could ever have been hungry. 
  
 "I was just out of college," the woman began. "I had come to the city looking for a job, but I couldn't find anything.  Finally I was down to my last few cents and had been kicked out of my apartment. I walked the streets for days  It was February and I was cold and nearly starving. I saw this place and walked in on the off chance that I could get something to eat." 

 Jack lit up with a smile.  "Now I remember," he said..  "I was behind the serving counter.  You came up and asked me if you could work for something to eat. I said that it was against company policy."  

 "I know," the woman continued. "Then you made me the biggest roast beef sandwich that I had ever seen, gave me a cup of coffee, and told me to go over to a corner table and enjoy it..  I was afraid that you would get into trouble.. Then, when I looked over and saw you put the price of my food in the cash register, I knew then that everything would be all right." 

 "So you started your own business?" Old Jack said. 

 "I got a job that very afternoon. I worked my way up.  Eventually I started my own business that, with the help of God, prospered." She opened her purse and pulled out a business card.. "When you are finished here, I want you to pay a visit to a Mr. Lyons...He's the personnel director of my company. I'll go talk to him now and I'm certain he'll find something for you to do around the office."  She smiled.  "I think he might even find the funds to give you a little advance so that you can buy some clothes and get a place to live until you get on your feet... If you ever need anything, my door is always opened to you." 

 There were tears in the old man's eyes. "How can I ever thank you?" he said.

"Don't thank me," the woman answered. "To God goes the glory. Thank Jesus... He led me to you."  

 Outside the cafeteria, the officer and the woman paused at the entrance before going their separate ways.... 

 "Thank you for all your help, officer," she said. 

 "On the contrary, Ms. Eddy," he answered. "Thank you. I saw a miracle today, something that I will never forget. And..And thank you for the coffee." 

 If you have missed knowing me, you have missed nothing. 

 If you have missed some of my emails, you might have missed a laugh..  

 But, if you have missed knowing my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, you have missed everything in the world.  

 Have a Wonderful Day. May God Bless You Always and don't forget that when you "cast your bread upon the waters," you never know how it will be returned to you...

God is so big He can cover the whole world with his Love and so small He can curl up inside your heart.. 

 When God leads you to the edge of the cliff, trust Him fully and let go. 
Only 1 of 2 things will happen, either He'll catch you when you fall, or He'll teach you how to fly! 

 The  power of one sentence! 

God is going to shift things around for you today and  let things work in your favor. 

 If you believe, send it. 
If you don't believe, delete it. 

 God closes doors no man can open & God opens doors no man can close.. 
 If you need God to open some doors for you...send this on. 

 Have a blessed day and remember to be a blessing..

 

LIVE WELL, LOVE MUCH, LAUGH OFTEN