Legend of the Forest

One day, as God was listening
To prayers that came to Him,
He heard a whispered longing
From a forest’s mighty limb.
“O Lord”, it prayed, “let me be formed
Into a palace fit
For the most noble king on earth.”
And God said, “So be it.”

Another tree then dared to ask
To be a ship well known
By men who sail on all the seas
And live in every zone.
The Father kindly looked on it
And touched it with His hand,
“You shall have your request in full
But you may not understand.”

A third tree shyly prayed, “Dear God,”
(And its leaves were aglow
With its earnestness to serve its Lord)
“Please let me always grow
“With branches pointing heavenward
To lead men’s thoughts to Thee.”
And God looked down on it with love
And breathed, “This, too, shall be.”

The woodmen came and felled each tree
And dragged them out one mom.
The first became a cattle shed
Where the King of kings was born.
They fashioned one to be a boat
To sail on Galilee.
From this the Master calmed the storm
And leveled the rolling sea.

The tiny skiff has travelled far
On sea, to every land,
As men in faith have calmed their fears
With His “Peace, be still!” command.
The third tree sadly hung its head,
“They are making a cross of me!”
But ever since, it has pointed men
To the Christ of Calvary.