God's Will

[dpodesta]

I have read this before and have totally forgotten about it until someone ssent it to me today. As I read it I couldn't help but think about the way my life is today without Karen and what God's plan is for me. After reading the following, I am reminded that he knows what he is doing and that I just need to slow down and listen and allow God to work in my life.

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 could be decorated with intricate carving

and everyone would see the 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 the heavens and God 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 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 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 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 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. One of the woodsmen said, "I don't need anything special from my

tree, 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 and made into a small fishing boat. His dreams

of being a mighty ship and carrying kings had come to an end.

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

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

Then one day, a man and woman came to 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 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 it had carried the King of Kings in its boat.

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 in the

air to die at the top of a hill. When Sunday came, the tree came to

realize that it 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 it.

The moral of this story is that 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 had imagined.

We don't always know what God's plans are for us.

We just know that His ways are not our ways, but His ways are always best.

He may inspire more people on the way.

May your day be blessed.

And until we meet again,

may God cradle you in the palm of His hand.

Derek

[STARKISS]

Hi Derek,

Thank you for sharing this with all of us, I do believe that things happen for a purpose... God has our best interests in his hands so we just have to believe in things that happen in our lives... Take care and God Bless you Shelley

[magdalyn]

Wow. Thanks for sharing that, I can tell that it has brought you peace. It is so true! Sometimes we forget about God's Will, but it is a very powerful thing.

[lorikelly]

Derek

How beautiful. i am going to print this and hang it on the refrig. thanks for giving me HOPE lori