Carson Christmas Program 2010 4th Grade

The Three Christmas Trees

I really enjoyed this story and i thought you might too


Once upon a mountain top, three little trees stood and dreamed of what theywanted to become when they grew up. The first little tree looked up at the starsand said: “I want to hold treasure. I want to be covered with gold and filledwith precious stones. I’ll be the most beautiful treasure chest in the world!”
The second little tree looked out at the small stream trickling by on it’sway to the ocean. “I want to be traveling mighty waters and carrying powerfulkings. I’ll be the strongest ship in the world!”
The third little tree looked down into the valley below where busy men andwomen worked in a busy town. “I don’t want to leave the mountain top at all. Iwant to grow so tall that when people stop to look at me, they’ll raise theireyes to heaven and think of God. I will be the tallest tree in the world.”
Years passed. The rain 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 said, “This tree isbeautiful. It is perfect for me.” With a swoop of his shining axe, the firsttree fell.
“Now I shall be made into a beautiful chest, I shall hold wonderfultreasure!” The first tree said.
The second woodcutter looked at the second tree and said, “This tree isstrong. It is perfect for me.” With a swoop of his shining axe, the second treefell.
“Now I shall sail mighty waters!” thought the second tree. “I shall be astrong ship for mighty 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 forme.” He muttered. With a swoop of his shining axe, the third tree fell.
The first tree rejoiced when the woodcutter brought her to a carpenter’sshop. But the carpenter fashioned the tree into a feedbox for animals.
The once beautiful tree was not covered with gold, with treasure. She wascoated with saw dust and filled with hay for hungry farm animals.
The second tree smiled when the woodcutter took her to a shipyard, but nomighty sailing ship was made that day. Instead the once strong tree washammered and sawed into a simple fishing boat. She was too small and too weak tosail to an ocean, or even a river; instead she was taken to a little lake.
The third tree was confused when the woodcutter cut her into strong beams andleft her in a lumberyard.
“What happened?” the once tall tree wondered. “All I ever wanted was tostay on the mountain top and point to God…”
Many, many days and nights passed. The three trees nearly forgot theirdreams. But one night, golden starlight poured over the first tree as a youngwoman placed her newborn baby in the feedbox.
“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 sturdywood. “This manger is beautiful.” she said.
And suddenly the first tree knew he was holding the greatest treasure in theworld.
One evening a tired traveler and his friends crowded into the old fishingboat. The traveler feel asleep as the second tree quietly sailed out into thelake.
Soon a thundering and thrashing storm arose. The little tree shuddered.She knew she did not have the strength to carry so many passengers safely throughwith the wind and the 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 andearth.
One Friday morning, the third tree was startled when her beams were yankedfrom the forgotten woodpile. She flinched as she was carried through an angryjeering 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 with joybeneath her, the third tree knew that God’s love had changed everything. Ithad made the third tree strong.
And every time people thought of the third tree, they would think of God.That was better than being the tallest tree in the world.