"A Story For Young and Old:

Far away on a hillside grew a forest of trees, little and big, old and young, tall and short.

Now these trees were very happy there on the hillside, but sometimes they spoke of the future - of what they wanted to do and be when they grew up.

One little tree said: "You know, I think I would like to be made into a baby's bed or a cradle. I have seen babies, carried in their mother's arms, going along the forest road, and to me a baby is the sweetest thing in the world. Yes, I should like to be made into a baby's bed."

A second little tree spoke: "THAT would not please ME at all. I want to be made into something IMPORTANT! I think I should like to be a great ship, strong and stately. I should like to sail the seven seas and carry cargoes of gold and silver and precious gems."

The third little tree stood off by himself on the hillside. He seemed to be in deep thought, but he said nothing. "And what would YOU like to do and be?" asked the Mother Tree. "Have you no dreams for the future?" "No dreams" the little tree answered, "except to stand on a hillside and point to God. For what could a tree do better than that?" Mother Tree looked at him fondly and smiled. "You are right, my child" she said. "To stand on a hillside and point to God is the best of all."

The years passed and the little trees grew up. One day there came into the forest some men to cut down the first little tree - the one that had wanted to be made into a baby's bed. And when he saw them coming he whispered, "Oh, I wonder if I am going to be made into a baby's bed now? I do hope so. I have waited so long."

But he wasn't made into a baby's bed. Instead this little tree was cut down, split into rough pieces and carelessly put together to form a crude manger for a stable in Bethlehem.

And when he saw this he was most unhappy! "Oh, this is not what I planned for my life. I who wanted to be made into a baby's bed. And now- to be nothing but a manger- and to be shoved into this dark cave (for that is what the stable really was) where no one can see me but the cattle!"

But God, who loves His little trees, whispered, "WAIT, AND I WILL SHOW YOU SOMETHING!" And He did!

For- "... there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night."
"And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid."
"And the angel said unto them, "Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people."
"For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord."
"And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger."
"And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men."
"And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us."

In the stillness of the night God had laid in the little manger His own dear Babe - the Son of God!

And when he saw it, the little manger quivered with delight! "Oh, this is wonderful," he whispered. "In all my dreams I never thought to hold a Baby such as this! I am part of a miracle! This is better than all MY planning!"

And out on the hillside, the trees of the forest rejoiced because their brother, the little manger, had seen his wish come true.

The years passed by, and one day some men came into the forest to cut down the second tree - the one that had wanted to be made into a great ship.

And when he saw them coming he whispered, "Oh, I wonder if I am going to be made into a great ship now? I hope so, for I have waited so long."

But he wasn't made into a great ship. Instead this little tree was cut down and made into a tiny fishing vessel, owned by a simple Galilean fisherman named Peter.

And when he saw this he was most unhappy! "Oh, this is not what I planned for my life - I who wanted to be made into a great ship. And to think I have come to this - to be a dirty, smelly, fishing boat! And Simon Peter isn't even a good fisherman."

But God, who loves His little trees, whispered, "WAIT, AND I WILL SHOW YOU SOMETHING!" And He did! For one day, out of the crowd came a Person called Jesus, Who entered into the little boat and sat down and taught the people. He spoke words of such wisdom, beauty, and light that the multitude and even the little boat listened eagerly.

When Jesus had finished teaching the people He told Peter to launch out into the deep and to let down his nets again. But Peter said, "...Master, we have toiled all the night, and have taken nothing; nevertheless at thy word I will let down the net. And when they had this done, they inclosed a great multitude of fishes; and their net brake"
(Luke 5:5-6). The ship was filled with fish so that it began to sink. And then Peter "fell down at Jesus' knees, saying. Depart from me; for I am a sinful man, 0 Lord!"
(Luke 5:8).

And when the little boat saw this he trembled, not so much with the weight of fishes, as with the weight of wonder in his heart. "Oh, this is wonderful," he whispered. "In all my dreams I never thought to carry a Cargo such as this! Why I am part of a miracle! THIS is better than all MY planning!"

And out on the hillside the trees of the forest rejoiced because their brother, the little boat, had seen his wish come true!

Months went by and men came to the forest one day to cut down the third little tree, the one that had wanted just to stand on a hillside and point to God.

And when he saw them coming he was most unhappy! "Oh, I don't want to go down into the valley!" he whispered. "Why can't men leave me alone?"

But the men did not leave the little tree alone. They tore away its branches - then cut it down. They cut it apart and put it together in the form of a crude cross.

And when the little tree saw this, it quivered through all its being. "Oh, this is terrible," it whispered. "They are going to use me to crucify someone. Oh, I never wanted this to happen to me. I who only wanted to point to God!" And the little tree wept for sorrow.

But God, who loves His little trees, whispered, "WAIT, AND I WILL SHOW YOU SOMETHING!" And He did!

For, one day outside Jerusalem, a great multitude had gathered. In their midst was Jesus, and beside Him was the cross "And they led Him away to a place which is called Calvary and there they crucified Him between two thieves - one on the right hand and the other on the left."

The cross shuddered beneath its weight of agony and shame.

Then suddenly a miracle happened! "Jesus, when he had cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost. And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent"
(Matthew 27:50-51).
"Now when the centurion, and they that were with him, watching Jesus, saw the earthquake, and those things that were done, they feared greatly, saying, Truly this was the Son of God"
(Matthew 27:54).

And then, to the little tree that had become a cross there came floating down from the heavenlies, the echo of a promise, heard and remembered, "AND I, IF I BE LIFTED UP FROM THE EARTH, WILL DRAW ALL MEN UNTO ME"
(John 12:32).

And then the cross began to understand, "Why, this is wonderful," he whispered, "In all my dreams I never thought to point to God in this way! I am a part of a miracle! THIS is better than all MY planning."

And so it was. For millions of trees have stood on hillsides through the years, and not one of them has ever been able to point man to God. Only the Cross of Calvary can do that.

And out on the hillside all the trees of the forest bowed their heads and thanked God because their brother, the Cross, had seen his wish come true."

It is right and good to dream and plan how we can best serve God and man. But many times circumstances seemingly change those plans, and later on we see the hand of God in it all.

The main things to be sure of are that we have received forgiveness for our sins, through Jesus Christ - that our desire now is to please Him in everything and to serve Him faithfully. Such service needs planning and determination - really desiring to be used of God to the blessing of others. As you set forth in this way to make life really count you will see God wonderfully guide you from faith to faith and from victory to victory. It will then be sheer joy looking forward to the end of life when you shall meet your Lord, and be rewarded according as you have zealously and faithfully labored and lived for Him."
Quoted from the Gospel Tract Harvester Newsletter, December 2001, pages 12-13.