NO MATTER HOW LONG

"We are our thoughts; so take care about what you think. Words are secondary. Thoughts live; they travel far." - Swami Vivekananda

Three trees were discussing their hopes and dreams, 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." "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." Said the second. The third added, "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, a group of Lumberjacks came upon the trees. 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 cut it down. The tree was happy; he knew that the carpenter would make him into a treasure chest. "This looks like a strong tree, I should
be able to sell it to the shipyard." Said the lumberjack to the second tree. It was happy for it was on his way to becoming a mighty ship. The Lumberjacks came upon the third, it was frightened because he knew that if they cut him down his dreams would not come true. One of the Lumberjacks said, "I don't need anything special from my tree so 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.

Things are always in most cases working out differently than we expect them to. But understand that, when they don't seem to be going your way, know that God has a plan with you in mind. If you place your trust in Him, He will take you there. Each of the trees got what they wanted, BUT NOT in the way they visualized it. Even though we know what God's plans are for us...He decides the path we'll take to get there. His ways are not our ways, but always the best.

Keep moving...if you can dream it, and can think it, then it can be achieved. Have you lost hope? Understand that a bend in the road, is not the end of the road! Faith sees what the eyes can't...God is on your case...just wait for Him.

Have you gotten tired? Please leave a comment and let me know how I can be of help.