The Story of the Three Trees

Once upon a time there were three trees. One tree was short ... one tree was tall ... one tree was medium size. One tree had large dark green leaves ... one tree had small reddish leaves ... one tree had slender pointy brown leaves. One tree grew deep within the forest ... one tree grew next to a lake ... one tree grew in a yard behind a house. Though each of the trees began as small saplings, they grew in different places under different circumstances. Each tree received differing amounts of water and sunlight. Each tree endured differing degrees of heat and cold. Each tree was different from the other, but each tree was still a tree.

The trees didn't fight over which one was the best tree or which one was the smartest tree or which one was the prettiest tree. The trees considered themselves blessed to be trees. The trees didn't look at each other and say, "If the fire comes, you're toast." The trees didn't go to each other and murmur, "You're growing the wrong way." The trees didn't stare at each other and grumble, "Your leaves aren't even leaves."  The trees didn't hate ... the trees didn't gossip ... the trees didn't attack ... the trees didn't scorn ... the trees didn't judge. The trees were trees together ... each one different, but each tree still a tree.

We humans would do well to learn from the three trees ... we would do well to be the three trees. Be kind to each other, friends ... there are many things in life we cannot choose, but we can always choose to be kind. The next time you're tempted to toss a match on someone, think about the three trees and choose to be kind instead. Remember ... one match can burn the mightiest of trees.

Once upon a time, there were three trees. Each tree was different from the other, but each tree was still a tree. The trees were trees together ... each one different, but each tree still a tree.