A Christmas Tree Tale

Once upon a time there was a mommy Christmas tree who had three children.

One day she asked each ofher three children what they would like to be when they grew up.

The first little Christmas tree said, "I want to be a baby cradle when I grow up. I would just love to hold a baby and rock it to sleep."

The second little Christmas tree said, "When I grow up I want to be a mast for a fine boat. I want to travel the world and see all the sights."

The third little Christmas tree said, "I don't want to be cut down at all. I just want to stand on a hill and point people to God."

The years went by. The three little Christmas trees remembered what they wanted to be, and they tried their best togrow in the ways that God could use them.

The first little Chrsitmas tree grew soft and curved so that it would make a wonderful cradle.

The second tree grew tall and strong so it would make a magnificent mast fora fine boat.

And the third tree grew tall and pointed so it couldalways point the way to God.

One day some men came into the forest and cutdown the first little Christmas tree. The tree was so excited. "At last I get to be a cradle!" But no! The men just fashioned the little tree into rough boards and made it into a trough to feed the animals. The little tree was so disappointed.

He was also angry with God. "God, you knew I wanted to be a baby cradle. How could you let this happen to me?" But God said, "Just be patient. I am not finished yet, and I have a very special job for you."

Some time later other men came into the forest and cut down the second Christmas tree. He was so excited! "At last I get to be the mast for a great ship!" But no! The men cut the tree into boards and made him into a small fishingboat. He was put onto a lake where he would never get to travel the world.

The little tree was so up set with God. "God, how could you let them make me into a fishing boat? You knew I wanted to be a mast!" But God just answered, "Be patient, little tree. I have a very special job for you!"

Later, more men came into the forest and cut down the last little Christmas tree. The little treewas horrified to be cut down. "God, all my life I have been growing tall and straight so that I could stand on the hill and point people to You. Why did you let them cut me down?"

But God said, " Be patient. I have a very special job for you to do."

One day there was a lot of commotion in the stable where the first little Christmas tree was living as a trough. It seemed there was no room in the inn, and a couple named Joseph and Mary would need to spend the night in the stable. That night something wonderful happened. Mary had a baby.

Mary and Joseph did not have a baby cradle, so they fixed up the little trough and placed the baby Jesus inside. The little Christmas tree felt over whelmed with happiness as he felt baby Jesus snuggle down and go to sleep.

Just then, as the angels were singing, God whispered to the little tree, "That baby is My Son. You are the most important baby cradle in the whole world."

Many years later the second Christmas tree floated inthe Sea of Galilee positively sure that God had forgotten all about him, when suddenly he heard a lot of noise. There on the shore was a growing multitude of people.

A very special looking man stepped insidehim and began to speak to the people.

The little tree listened verycarefully as the man spoke about God, and many of the people there came to knowHim. Just then God whispered to the little tree, "That man is My Son. You have just helped many people come to know about Me. You are the most important boat in the world."

What happened to the third Christmas tree? He was shaped into two rough boards and fashioned together in the shape of a cross. One day he was carried through the streets of Jerusalem and up on a hill where the man who carried him was hung upon him to die. His disappointment was complete. He bitterly cried out to God, "Is this the special job you had for me?...to be a cross for a common criminal to die upon?"

His bitterness soon turned to awe as he listened to God's answer. "That man is My Son. He is dying to save the world from their sins. From this day forward, you willalways point people to Me."

The mother Christmas tree bowed her head and thanked God for the parts her children played in His plan and the special way He had given each of them what they wanted.

He is "THE GIFT"

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