Once upon a mountaintop, three little trees stood and dreamed of what they wanted to become when they grew up.

• 1st Tree looked up and said, “I want to be surrounded with the world’s most beautiful treasure.”
• 2nd Tree said, “I want to travel mighty waters w/ powerful royalty.”
• 3rd Tree said, “I want to grow so tall that people raise their eyes to heaven and think of God’s greatness.” 

Years pass and 3 lumberjack climb the mountain and with a swoop of an ax the tree was cut down.

• 1st Lumberjack says, “This tree will make a beautiful box.”
• 2nd Lumberjack says, “This tree is strong & will make a great ship.”
• 3rd Lumberjack says, “Any kind of tree will do for me.”
  

Many days and night pass with hard work for each craftsman.

• 1st craftsman created box that was filled w/ hay for hungry farm animals.
• 2nd craftsman created a small fishing boat.
• 3rd craftsman created many strong beams to be left in lumberyard.
  

       After more years of sunshine, storms, and struggles…

• 1^st Tree was a feed box for animals but on THIS NIGHT became a chest holding world’s greatest treasure – the infant Jesus Christ.
• 2^nd Tree was a fishing boat, but THIS DAY sailed thru crashing waves and the boat captain whispered, “Peace, be still.” And he knew that he was carrying the king of heaven & earth.
• 3^rd tree was left in a lumberyard until ONE FRIDAY MORN, when the beams became a cross. It felt the pain of the nail pierced hands of Jesus. It heard the insults from the crowd shouting at Jesus. And it ached inside when they took Jesus’ body off the beams to be placed in a tomb. But… after 3 days, those beams stood taller than any tree as it pointed to the greatest power and love that anyone could ever know.

Like the lives of these three trees, God is with you through every circumstance. He is writing a story behind the scenes that you may not understand at the time, but always works for good. God is faithful, and His steadfast love endures forever.