Sunday Reflections - The Legend of the Three Trees

As we fly home from Tennessee this afternoon, I want to share one of my favorite stories - The Legend of the Three Trees.

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 will be filled with gold, silver and precious gems. I will be decorated with intricate carving and everyone will 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 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 and look up to my branches and think of God and the heavens 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 woodsman came to the first tree he said, "This looks like a strong tree. I should be able to sell the wood to a carpenter," and he began cutting it down. The tree was happy because he knew that the carpenter would make him into a treasure chest.

At the second tree another 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 last 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. The woodsmen said, "I don't need anything special so 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 up and made into a small fishing boat. His dreams of being a mighty ship and carrying the Kings and Queens to all parts of the world had come to an end. This was not the future he had prayed for.

The third tree was cut into large pieces and left alone in a storage building.

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



Then one day, a man and woman came to the barn. She gave birth and they placed the baby into 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 he had held the greatest treasure of all time.

Years later, a group of men got into 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 he had carried the King of Kings.

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 into the air to die at the top of a hill. When Sunday came, the tree came to realize that he 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 him.

As we leave the Christmas season, Betty and I pray that your year will be filled with the knowledge that Jesus has a plan for your life.