- A traditional Folktale retold by Angela Elwell
Once upon a mountain top, three little trees stood and dreamed of what they wanted to become when they grew up.
The first lettle tree looked up at the stars twinkling like diamonds above him. "I want to be covered with gold and filled with preciouse stones. I will be the most beautiful treasure chest in the world!"
The second little tree looked out at the small stream trickling by on its way to the ocean. "I want to be a strong sailing ship," he said. "I want to travel mighty waters and carry powerful kings. I will be the strongest ship in the world!.
The third little tree looked down into the valley below where busy men and busy women worked in a busy town. "I don't want to leave this mountaintop at all," she said. "I want to grow so tall that when people stop to look at me they will raise their eyes to heaven and think of God. I will be the tallest tree in the world!"
Years passed. The rains came, the sun shone, and the little trees grew tall. One day three woodcutters climbed the mountain.
The first woodcutter looked at the first tree and siad, "This tree is beautiful. It is perfect for me." With a swoop of his shining axe, the first tree fell. "Now I shall be made into a beautiful chest," thought the first tree. "I shall hold wonderful treasure."
The second woodcutter looked at the second tree and said, "This tree is strong. It is perfect for me." With a swoop of his shining axe, the second tree fell. "Now I shall sail mighty waters," thought the second tree. "I shall be a strong ship fit for kings!"
The third tree felt her heart sink when the last woodcutter looked her way. She stood straight and tall and pointed bravely to heaven. But the woodcutter never even looked up. "Any kind of tree will do for me," he muttered. With a swoop of his shining axe, the third tree fell.
The first tree rejoiced when the woodcutter brough him to a carpenter's shop, but the busy carpenter was not thinking about treasure chests. Instead his workworn hands fashioned the tree into a feed box for animals. The once-beautiful tree was not covered with gold or filled with treasure. He was coated with sawdust and filled with hay for hungry animals.
The second tree smiled when the woodcutter took him to a shipyard, but no mighty sailing ships were being built that day. Instead the once-strong tree was hammered and sawed into a simple fishing boat. Too small and too weak to sail an ocean or even a river, he was taken to a little lake. Every day he brought in loads of dead, smelly fish.
The third tree was confused when the woodcutter cut her into strong beams and left her in a lumberyard. "What happened?" the once-tall tree wondered. "All I ever wanted to do was stay on the mountaintop and point to God."
Many, many days and nights passed. The three trees nearly forgot their dreams. But one night golden starlight poured over the first tree as a young woman placed her newborn baby in the feed box. "I wish I could make a cradle for him," her husband whispered. The mother squeezed his hand and smiled as the starlight shone on the smooth and sturdy wood. "This manger is beautiful," she said. And suddenly the first tree knew he was holding the greatest treasure in the world.
One evening a tired traveller and his friends crowded into the old fishing boat. The traveller fell asleep as the second tree quietly sailed out into the lake. Soon a thundering and thrashing storm arose. The little tree shuddered. He knew he did not have the strength to carry so many passengers safely through the wind and rain. The tired man awakened. He stood up, stretched out his hand, and said, "Peace." The storm stopped as quickly as it had begun. And suddenly the second tree knew he was carrying the King of heaven and earth.
One Friday morning, the third tree was startled when her beams were yanked from the forgotten woodpile. She flinched as she was carried through an angry, jeering crowd. She shuddered when soldiers nailed a man's hands to her. She felt ugly and harsh and cruel.
But on Sunday morning, when the sun rose and the earth trembled beneath her, the third three knew that God's loved had changed everything. It had made the first tree beautiful. It had made the second tree strong, And every time people thought if the third tree, they would think of God.
That was better than being the tallest tree in the world.
At this most wonderful time of year, we turn our hearts to Christ. We celebrate His birth, His life and His gift to us. I we can share His message of peace and love with those around us. Merry Christmas!
It's the Christmas season again, and I am happy to report that my yearly tradition of card making is alive and kicking here in China. Last year I went to a friend's house and used all her supplies to make cards. Thanks Melanie Bang for helping out last year! But, she was busy that day and I just sat making cards alone watching Ugly Betty. It was nice, but a little lonely. This year I decided that it just wouldn't do to be all alone making my cards. In the States, every year I would go to a Stamp a Stack with my great friend Jacqui. I miss you Jacqui! So, this year, in honor of Jacqui and all our fun times stamping, I got a small group of friends together to work on cards. Even though we couldn't bring Sonic drinks for each other, I have the good taste to associate with lots of Diet Coke drinkers. We stamped, ate pizza and pasta from Pasta 
Whew! What a mess!
