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Monday, January 16, 2012

Prayer: Shel Silverstein's "The Giving Tree"

Once there was a tree ... and she loved a little boy." And so begins the story of a tree being happy because she is able to make the boy happy. At first the body desires nothing but to climb on her branches, eat her apples, and lie in her shade.

But as the boy grows, so do his desires. But because of the tree's love, she gives her apples for him to sell for money to have real fun; her branches that he might build a house for a wife and family; and her trunk so he could build a boat and sail away from the boredom of life.

And then one day, the prodigal returns to the tree that loves him. By now, she has given him everything; all that remains of her is an old stump. The boy, now an old man, needs only a quiet place to sit and rest. And the Giving Tree gives once more.

2 comments:

  1. I love this story the tree gave the boy respect and the boy did make the tree happy but once he grew older he began to get grumpier and greedy.The tree got lonely for a while once the boy got older the tree was mad but happy as the boy came back every other week or day or month asking for parts of the tree Best story every/sad.

    regards,
    cleo of Attorneys Anchorage Alaska

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    Replies
    1. It is a great and tender story of the values of life.

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