There are many ways to live a life that points to God. How are you doing?
One of my favorite children’s books is, “The Tale of Three Trees.” It’s a picture book that is derived from an old folktale and is retold by Angela Hunt. The story is about three little trees standing on a mountaintop and the dreams they had for their lives. One tree wanted to hold treasure. One wanted to be a strong ship to carry kings and one simply wanted to stand on that same mountaintop and grow as tall as possible, so that people would look at her, “raise their eyes to heaven and think of God.” She wanted to be the tallest tree in the world.
The years went by and the trees grew. One day, some men with axes came and cut each one down. The first was made into a feed box for smelly, dirty livestock. The second was made into a small fishing boat that carried nets full of stinky fish. The third was cut into plain old strong beams and left in the lumberyard.
More years went by and the trees had all but forgotten their dreams. Does this remind anyone of any adults you know? Then one night a newborn baby was placed in that feed box and that tree knew that it had held treasure after all, the greatest treasure ever.
The little boat was caught in a storm and it was full of people and a sleeping man. The tree that made it thought it would sink for sure, but the man woke up and said, “Peace” and the storm quieted immediately. The little tree knew he was in fact, carrying the King of all kings.
And when the third tree whose only dream was for people to look at her and see God, was snatched out of the woodpile and made into a cross, one Friday afternoon, she was devastated. Where had she gone wrong? All she had wanted to do in life was stand straight and tall and point to God. But, on Sunday morning, she knew. When Jesus was resurrected and the miracle and joy of Easter became known, she became a symbol of God’s love for the entire world. People would always look at her and think of God.
I just love that story on so many levels. I love that the little boat totally believed it was a goner until Jesus uttered one word, “Peace” There have been times in my life where I have felt like that little boat, like all was lost. Perhaps you have too? Sometimes the storms may seem impossible, but when we look to Jesus and let him whisper that one word, all can be well with our souls.
Most of all, I love that those trees had so many plans for their lives that they believed were perfect, but God’s plans were different and so much better. I can see so much of myself in this story. Can you? It’s those times when we think we have been completely derailed that grace seems to shine the brightest and the new plan is beyond our wildest expectations.
God’s hands were all in their story, just as His hands are in ours. The big difference is that the trees didn’t have a choice. We do. Are we willing to let God make us into something amazing or do we continue to do things our way? Are we living lives that point to God? The choice is ours.
Have an awesome day!
Wendy 🙂