Longing, Dreaming

Last night, during our Advent Worship, we read the children's story - "The Tale of Three Trees." I love this folk tale for many reasons, and it's the perfect book particularly for the first week of Advent, because its about shattered dreams and what God eventually does with them.

Are you willing to have your dreams shattered so God can have his way in your life? Are you willing to accept the initial disappointment and loss, and hang on to the belief that He can redeem it for something amazing and glorious?

Am I willing to have my dreams for our children shattered so their real Father can have His way in their lives? And am I willing to accept any initial pain and sorrow, and trust that He has amazing and glorious purposes for their lives?

My natural inclination is to seek the best for my four children. But what the Tale of the Three Trees reminds me that it is not enough to want to be the most beautiful (first tree), or to be the strongest (second tree) or be the tallest. What God does is craft our disappointments into something that is beyond our wildest imagination. The story also reminds me that He does this for His purposes, not ours. Our happiness is inconsequential - a thought that actually frightens me.

Interestingly enough, living out his intentions, is our ultimate joy - a thought that gives me so much hope this Advent season.

The story concludes with the third tree, who had visions of becoming the tallest tree, serving as the Cross - which essentially is a signpost pointing up above to God.

And "that was better than being the tallest tree in the world."