On Feb. 13, 2015, a young student at Springville Middle School led First Priority and shared an inspirational story about three trees. Once upon a time there stood three little trees on a mountaintop. These three little trees had big dreams. The first little tree wanted to hold treasure and be covered with gold and filled with precious stones. The second little tree wanted to be a ship that carried powerful kings. The third little tree didn’t want to leave the mountaintop at all. He wanted to be the tallest tree in the world so that when people stopped to look up at him, they would raise their eyes to Heaven and think of God.
After years passed, the three little trees grew tall, so tall that one day three wood cutters climbed the mountain to cut them down. With big dreams to hold treasure, the first tree was used as a feed box for animals to hold hay. With dreams of becoming a mighty ship and carry powerful kings, the second tree was turned into a small fishing boat. And finally, with big dreams to stay put and grow tall, the third tree was cut into strong beams and left in a lumberyard.
After many days and nights passed, the three trees nearly forgot their dreams. But one night, a young woman placed her newborn baby in the feed box. Her husband whispered, “I wish I could make a cradle for him.” She replied with, “This manger is beautiful.” The first tree then knew he was holding the greatest treasure in the world.
One evening a tired traveler and his friends crowded into the small fishing boat. While the traveler was sleeping, a vigorous storm arose and the second tree was afraid because he didn’t believe he was strong enough to carry so many passengers safely through the wind and rain. The tired traveler awoke and with his outstretched hand he calmed the sea. The second tree then knew he was carrying the King of Heaven and Earth.
One Friday morning, the third tree’s beams were yanked from the wood pile. It was carried through an angry, mocking crowd. Soldiers nailed a man’s hand to it. The tree felt ugly, harsh and cruel. But on Sunday, when the sun rose and the Earth trembled with joy, 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 so much better than being the tallest tree in the world.
“God has a plan for you and you have a purpose in this world,” the First Priority student said. “Seek God’s will for your life. He has a plan for you in His time.”
God may not give us what we want and when we want it, but if we seek Him and His will for our lives, He will give us something better. Seek God’s will for your life. Begin praying today that God will show you His purpose for you in this world.
