Posted on 06/08/2002 4:15:32 PM PDT by Siobhan
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 carpenter" ... and he began cutting it down. The tree was happy, because he knew that the carpenter would make him a treasure chest.
At the second tree a 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 at all from my tree so I'll take this one", and he cut it down.
Then the first tree arrived at the carpenter's, 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 it wanted, just not in the way it 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.
My sincerest sympathy to you and your entire family. I so appreciate your posting the story of history_matters. What a remarkable man he was! He gave a lasting gift to his family - devout faith! That is so difficult to do when the world often counteracts our best intentions. How truly amazing to know that he brought together your son and his personal nurse. The joy of their engagement will always be bittersweet. And his final act was to gather his family around him to say the rosary as well as the Chaplet of the Divine Mercy. You must be very consoled to know that Our Blessed Mother welcomed him into heaven.
My prayers go out to you and all your loved ones. You dad will be remembered in a special way.
Eternal rest, grant unto to him, O Lord, and may perpetual light shime upon him. May he rest in peace. Amen.
We will all miss him, but he goes to a better place.
God bless you and your family as well,
patent
John 14:27
Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.
Based on Psalm 91:
And he will raise you up on eagle's wings
Bear you on the breath of dawn
Make you to shine like the dawn
And hold you in the palm of His hand.
***********************************
Here I am Lord
It is I, Lord
I have heard You
Calling in the night.
I will go Lord
if you lead me.
Matthew 25:
Well done, good and faithful servant...Enter thou into the joy of thy Lord.
Along with your sorrow always remember the joyful times and know that he is in God's care. May God grant you and your family the peace of Christ.
Words aren't always necessary, don't hide your sorrow but by your actions let everyone in your family know that they still matter to you. Don't shut them out because your other children will need lots of reassurance. Just be there for your family and let them be there for you. You all will be stronger through this if you help each other.
BTW, I only live a few hours from EP so if there is anything at all that I can do to help just let me know.
-Kevin
al_c
Yours in Christian Fraternity,
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