The Three Trees

There is an old story about three little trees who wanted to be something in life. The
first tree wanted to be a pretty cradle when it grew up. One day some people came to
the forest and cut the tree down. The tree was hewn into rough pieces and carelessly
put together to form a manger in a stable in Bethlehem. The little tree was disappointed
because it was shoved into a dark cave with no one to see it but some cattle. One night
a young couple found shelter in that cave and there the woman gave birth to a baby boy
and named him Jesus. The manger quivered with delight. It knew this baby was the
promised Messiah, the Son of God. "Oh, this is wonderful!” the tree thought. “In all my
dreams I never thought to hold a Baby like this. This is better than all my planning. Why,
I am part of a miracle!"

Years passed by, and men came to the forest to cut down the second tree. This tree
aspired to be a great ship when it grew up. But the little tree did not do great things.
Instead of being made into a great vessel, it became a tiny fishing boat, owned by a
simple fisherman named Peter. The little boat was most unhappy. One day it sat by the
shores of the Sea of Galilee dejected and disappointed. A crowd had gathered by the
shore and because of the multitude, the Messiah Jesus stepped into the little boat and
taught the people from it. "This is wonderful!" it whispered. "In all my dreams and
planning I never thought I would be used as part of a miracle."

After some months, men came to the forest to cut down the third tree. This tree
just wanted to remain on the hillside and point to God, but the men did not leave the
little tree alone. They tore away its branches; they cut into its bark, and deeper, into its
very heart. They hewed it apart and put it together again, in the form of a crude cross.
The little tree quivered through all its being. "This is terrible!" it whispered. "They are
going to hang someone. Oh, I never wanted this to happen to me I only wanted to point
to God! This is awful!"

A few days later, outside of Jerusalem, a great crowd gathered. In the midst of the
crowd was Jesus Christ, and beside Him was the cross. After Jesus was nailed to it, the
little tree heard words of forgiveness and peace that were offered to the whole world.
Then Jesus completed His work of redemption and "gave up spirit." And the cross
began to understand! "This is wonderful!" it whispered. "In all my dreams I never
thought to point to God in this way. I am part of a miracle. This is better than all my
planning."

Friends, often we become disappointed when our plans fail and our dreams fade.
Yet in every situation, God wants to use us for His glory. We may not have the type of
job which we would like, we may not live in the place we would prefer, our health
condition may not be what we would choose, we may find our family relationships very
disappointing, but that should not keep us from honoring the Lord. If we focus our
attention and energy on loving God and serving the people around us, we can be
confident He will use us in a way that is better than all our planning.