Saints' Discussion Forums

Once upon a time there were 3 little trees who all had a dream of what they would grow up to be someday.

Tree no.1 hoped to be a beautiful treasure chest that would be filled with gold, silver and precious gems.
Tree no.2 hoped to be a strong ship that would carry great kings and sail mighty waters.
Tree no.3 hoped to grow straight and to be the tallest tree in the forest.
               When people looked up at the tree, they would raise their eyes to heaven and think of God.

Time passed and one day 3 woodsmen came and cut down the 3 trees. They were each made into something that was something that was far from their dreams.

Tree no.1 was made into a feed box for animals--- not a beautiful treasure chest filled with treasures.
Tree no.2 was made into a small fishing boat---not a strong and mighty ship to carry great kings.
Tree no.3 was cut into long large beams and left alone in the dark ------No longer a tall, straight tree in the forest.

Many years passed by and the 3 trees had almost forgot about each of their dreams.
But God had not forgotten.

~ One starry night in a Bethlehem stable tree no.1 held the greatest treasure in the world---Baby Jesus !
~ One evening a great storm arose, and tree no.2 didn't think he could keep his passengers safe. Then one Man who had been asleep in the boat arose and calmed the storm; and the       
    tree knew that he carried the King of Kings across the waters.
~  Finally tree no.3 was made into a rugged cross. A Man was nailed to it. High upon a hill he died upon that cross. When Sunday morning  came the tree knew that it was Jesus that had died
    everyone upon the tree.

God always had a plan for the 3 trees.  They thought their dreams were forgotten. But God had a different plan to fulfill their dreams. God's plans are always the best.  Trust in him to show you his perfect way!

This leads me to think of Job Chapter 38.

It's not easy being carved into whatever shape you are meant to be. But one should be a good tree

This reminds me of Bl. Junipero Serra, I was reading about him recently, who took his name after one of St. Francis's companions, St. Juniper, of whom the saint said, "Would to God, my brethren, that I had a forest of such Junipers!"

Reminds me too of the Potter and the clay.
Sometimes I don't like being the clay but I know I'd make a worse job of being Potter.  :-\

Surely you have things turned around!
  Shall the potter be esteemed as the clay;
  For shall the thing made say of him who made it,
“ He did not make me”?
  Or shall the thing formed say of him who formed it,
“ He has no understanding”?
Isaiah 29: 16

Ah yes, the vessel formed to honor or dishonor..

I was just reading about this recently..

'Shall the clay say to him that fashioncth it: What art thou making? If clay should dare to say to the potter, Why hast thou formed me thus? the potter ought to answer: Be silent: it is not your business to inquire what I do, but to obey and to receive whatever form I please to give you.'

St. Alphonsus Maria de Liguori

Not quite the quote I was looking for, but close.

 

!!!!!!!

God always knows best and wait on His time, His ways, for us to become what we are to become.

He has so much patience with us, and I have none when my life doesn't turn out the way I want - rather like a two-year-old having a tantrum. ::) ::)