Day Two: 12 Days of Christmas Stories {Three Trees}

Day One: Christmas Day in the Morning & Milk Glass

For the second day of stories, the story is The Three Trees! It has such a special meaning. Here you go, read it (or download the PDF version here Three Trees):

The Three Trees

Author Unknown

Once there were three trees on a hill in the woods. They were discussing their hopes and dreams when 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 beauty.”

Then the second tree said, “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.” Finally, the third tree said, “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 that their dreams would come true, a group of woodsmen came upon the trees. When 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 began cutting it down. The tree was happy, because he knew that the carpenter would make him into a treasure chest. At the second tree a woodsman said; “This looks like a strong tree, I should be able to sell it to the shipyard.” The second tree was happy, because he knew he was on his way to becoming a mighty ship. When the woodsmen came upon the third tree, the tree was frightened because he knew that if they cut him down his dreams would not come true. One of the woodsmen 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. He stood and said, “Peace.” 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.

The moral of this story is that when things don’t seem to be going your way, always know that God has a plan for you. If you place your trust in Him, He will give you great gifts. Each of the trees got what they wanted, just not in the way they had imagined. We don’t always know what God’s plans are for us. We just know that His ways are not our ways, but His ways are always best.

It may be pretty literal, but I made three cone trees as a representation of this story. Whenever I look at them in my home I will remember this story.

Grab your supplies:

• three cones
• yarn, fabric, etc.
• glue gun & glue sticks

The first tree I used a pleating method. I used the plaid lighter green fabric. I cut the edges in a chevron shape and then cut a straight edge about two inches up from the chevron edge. I then glued it to the bottom with some hanging over the bottom of the cone so you could see the chevron effect. I then made pleats with my fingers. I glued the back of the pleat to the tree and then the pleated part together (see pictures below). I went around a layer and then went up and did another layer. At the very top I didn’t pleat, but just glued a small piece entirely around the point of the cone.

The second tree is covered with yarn. This one was by far the easiest. I just fell in love with the texture of this yarn and couldn’t resist. All you do is start at the top putting a bead of hot glue and sticking the yarn to it. Wrap around the cone and every little bit do a drop of glue and place the yarn all the way down until you get to the bottom.

The third tree is also easy, but a little more time consuming. For this tree I used a rosette flower style, but instead of making a flower, just twist the fabric and glue it to the cone.

And there you have it three easy textured trees.

How have you been decorating your home? Do you have some sweet cone trees in your house?

Linking up with: Ladybug Blessings, Sugar Bee Crafts, The 36th Ave, House of Hepworth, My Romantic Home, Simply Designing