A long time ago, there was a huge apple tree. A little boy loved to come and play around it everyday. He climbed to the tree top, ate the apples, took a nap under the shadow... He loved the tree and the tree loved to play with him. Time went by... the little boy had grown up and he no longer played around the tree everyday. One day, the boy came back to the tree and he looked sad.
"Come and play with me," the tree asked the boy.
"I am no longer a kid, I don't play around trees anymore." The boy replied, "I want toys. I need money to buy them."
"Sorry, but I don't have money... but you can pick all my apples and sell them. Then you will have money." The boy was so excited. He grabbed all the apples on the tree and left happily. The boy never came back after he picked the apples. The tree was sad.
One day, the boy (now a man), returned and the tree was so excited. "Come and play with me" the tree said.
"I don't have time to play. I have to work for my family. We need a house for shelter. Can you help me?"
"Sorry, but I don't have a house. But you can chop off my branches to build your house." So the man cut all the branches of the tree and left happily. The tree was glad to see him happy but the man never came back since then. The tree was again lonely and sad.
One hot summer day, the man returned and the tree was delighted. "Come and play with me!" the tree said.
"I am sad and getting old. I want to go sailing to relax myself. Can you give me a boat?"
"Use my trunk to build your boat. You can sail far away and be happy." So the boy cut the tree trunk to make a boat. He went sailing and never showed up for a long time.
Finally, the man returned after he left for so many years. "Sorry, Sir, but I don't have anything for you anymore. No more apples for you..." the tree said.
"I don't have teeth to bite" the man replied.
"No more trunk for you to climb on"
"I am too old for that now" the man said.
"I really can't give you anything... the only thing left is my dying roots" the tree said with tears.
"I don't need much now, just a place to rest. I am tired after all these years." The man replied.
"Good! Old tree roots is the best place to lean on and rest. Come, Come sit down with me and rest." The man sat down and the tree was glad and smiled with tears...
This is a story for everyone. The tree is our parents. When we were young, we loved to play with Mom and Dad... When we grew up,we left them... only come to them when we need something or when we are in trouble. No matter what, parents will always be there and give everything they can to make you happy. You may think the boy is cruel to the tree but that is how all of us are treating our parents. love your parents, no matter where they are.
A Prayer for Lent
"Lord Jesus, in my rejections I cry out to You. My heart is heavy, I live in fear. Dear Jesus, help me to see myself as You see me - a beautiful creation in Your image. Give me the strength and courage to ignore my abusers and to value myself as You value me. Help me to learn to first like myself then love myself a little more each day. Help me to realize that I am Your lovely child and that You have a grand plan all laid out for me. I place my broken heart in Your loving care."
March 1
When something in your life or thoughts makes you anxious, come to Me and talk about it. Bring Me your prayer and petition with thanksgiving, saying: “Thank You, Jesus, for this opportunity to trust You more.” Though the lessons of trust that I send to you come wrapped in difficulties, the benefits far outweigh the cost.
Well-developed trust will bring you many blessings, not the least of which is My Peace. I have promised to keep you in perfect Peace to the extent that you trust in Me. The world has it backwards, teaching that peace is the result of having enough money, possessions, insurance, and security systems. My Peace, however, is such an all-encompassing gift that it is independent of all circumstances. Though you lose everything else, if you gain My Peace you are rich indeed.
Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God.
—Philippians 4:6 nasb
You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you.
—Isaiah 26:3 – From Jesus Calling
THE WHIPPING
There was a class of young people that no teacher was able to handle. Two
or three teachers had been run off from school this year by these young
people. Finally a young man out of college heard about the class and
applied to the school. The principal asked the young man "Do you not know
what you are asking for, no one has been able to handle these young people,
you are just asking for a terrible beating." After a few moments of silent
prayer, the young man looked at the principal and said "Sir, with your
consent I accept the challenge, just give me a trial basis."
The next morning the young man reported for class. He said to the class
"Young people, I came here today to conduct school, but I realize I can't do
it by myself, I must have your help. One big boy, they called Big Tom, in
the back of the room whispered to his buddies" I'll not need any help, I can
lick that little bird all by myself." The young teacher told the class if
they are to have school, there will have to be some rules to go by. He also
added that he will allow the students to make up the rules and he will list
them on the blackboard. One young man suggested "NO STEALING". Another one
shouted "BE ON TIME FOR CLASS." Pretty soon they had 10 rules listed on the
board. The teacher had then asked the class what the punishment should be
for breaking these rules. Rules are no good unless they are enforced.
Someone in the class suggested that if the rules were broken, they should
receive 10 licks with a rod across their back with their coat off. The
teacher thought that was pretty harsh, and asked the class would they stand
by this punishment. The class agreed.
Everything went pretty good for two or three days. Finally Big Tom came in
one day very upset. He reported that someone had stolen his lunch. After
talking with the students they came to the conclusion that Little Jim had
stolen Big Tom's lunch. The teacher called Little Jim up to the front of
the room and asked him to remove his coat. That little fellow came up the
aisle with a great big coat on. Little Jim approached the teacher and said
" I am guilty and am willing to take my punishment but please don't make me
take off my coat." The teacher reminded Little Jim of the rules and their
punishments and asked him again to remove his coat and take his punishment
like a man. That little fellow started to unbutton that old coat, and the
teacher saw that he did not have a shirt on under the coat. The teacher
asked Little Jim why he came to school without a shirt on. Little Jim said
"My daddy's dead and my mother is very poor, I don't have but one shirt and
my mother is washing it today. I wore big brother's coat to keep my little
body warm."
That young teacher stood and looked at the frail back and wondered how he
could lay a rod on that little back without even a shirt on. He knew if he
didn't enforce the punishment, the children would not obey the rules, so as
he drew back to strike Little Jim, Big Tom came down the aisle. Big Tom
asked "Can I take Little Jim's whipping for him" The teacher agreed and Big
Tom ripped his coat off and stooped over and the teacher began to lay the
rod on that big back. But for some strange reason after only five licks,
that old rod just broke in half. The young teacher buried his face in his
hands and began to sob. He heard a commotion and looked up to find not even
one dry eye in the room. Little Jim had run and grabbed Big Tom around the
neck, apologizing to him for stealing his lunch, and explained that he was
so very hungry. Little Jim begged Big Tom to forgive him. He told Big Tom
that he would love him till the day he died for taking his whipping for him.
Aren't you glad that Jesus took our whipping for us, that He shed his
precious blood on Calvary so that we can have eternal life in Glory with
Him? We are unworthy of the price He paid for us, but aren't you glad He
loves us that much?
-- Author Unknown
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