Sunday, April 29, 2007

The Story of the Three Trees

Once there were three trees on a hill in the woods. They were discussing their hopes and dreams when the first tree said,

"Someday I hope to be a treasure chest. I could be filled with gold, silver and precious gems. I could be decorated with intricate carving and everyone would see the beauty."

Then the second tree said, "Someday I will be a mighty ship. I will take kings and queens across the waters and sail to the corners of the world. Everyone will feel safe in me because of the strength of my hull."

Finally the third tree said, "I want to grow to be the tallest and straightest tree in the forest. People will see me on top of the Hill and look up to my branches, and think of the heavens and God and how close to them I am reaching. I will be the greatest tree of all time and people will always remember me."

After a few years of praying that their dreams would come true, a group of woodsmen came upon the trees. When one came to the first tree he said, "This looks like a strong tree, I think I should be able to sell the wood to a carpenter, "and he began cutting it down. The tree was happy, because he knew that the carpenter would make him into a treasure chest.

At the second tree the woodsman said, "This looks like a strong tree. I should be able to sell it to the shipyard." The second tree was happy because he knew he was on his way to becoming a mighty ship.

When the woodsmen came upon the third tree, the tree was frightened because he knew that if they cut him down his dreams would not come true. One of the Woodsmen said, "I don't need anything special from my tree, I'll take this one," and he cut it down.

When the first tree arrived at the carpenters, he was made into a feed box for animals. He was then placed in a barn and filled with hay. This was not at all what he had prayed for.

The second tree was cut and made into a small fishing boat. His dreams of being a mighty ship and carrying kings had come to an end.

The third tree was cut into large pieces, and left alone in the dark.

The years went by, and the trees forgot about their dreams.

Then one day, a man and woman came to the barn. She gave birth and they placed the baby in the hay in the feed box that was made from the first tree. The man wished that he could have made a crib for the baby, but this manger would have to do. The tree could feel the importance of this event and knew that it had held the greatest treasure of all time.

Years later, a group of men got in the fishing boat made from the second tree. One of them was tired and went to sleep. While they were out on the water, a great storm arose and the tree didn't think it was strong enough to keep the men safe. The men woke the sleeping man, and He stood and said "Peace" and the Storm stopped. At this time, the tree knew that it had carried the King of Kings in its boat.

Finally, someone came and got the third tree. It was carried through the streets as the people mocked the man who was carrying it. When they came to a stop, the man was nailed to the tree and raised in the air to die at the top of a hill. When Sunday came, the tree came to realize that it was strong enough to stand at the top of the hill and be as close to God as was possible, because Jesus had been crucified on it.


The moral of this story is that when things don't seem to be going your way, always know that God has a plan for you. If you place your trust in Him, God will give you great gifts.

Each of the trees got what they wanted, just not in the way they had imagined.

We don't always know what God's plans are for us. We just know that His ways are not our ways, but His ways are always best.


Sunday, April 22, 2007

Alay na Tula ni Kuya Sam

me-ann,

aking pipitasin tangkay ng kataga
kay bangong talulot ng panalinghaga
na namumukadkad sa pananariwa
upang maidulog sa natanging mutya

at muli sa hardin ng KAMAKATAHAN
pagbati ng galak ay nag-uunahan
upang mailuhog sa ating tahanan
ang saya at lugod para sa 'ting Me-ann

kahit na nahuli'y pilit humahabol
may tunog-gitara, trumpeta, at tambol
may kwitis na kislap ngayo'y 'sinasaboy
pagbati'y sariwa't di pa naluluoy!

Happy b-day Me-ann

Kuya Sam

04/20/07

Handog na Tula ni Kiko

Kay Me-ann
By: Francis MonteseƱa

Huwag,
Huwag kang matakot.
Huwag kang matakot taluntunin
Ang daang nakalaan para sa iyo.

Iyan,
Iyan ay para sa ‘yo.
Di man piliin, iyong tupdin
Ang kasi ng laan sa iyong kapalaran.

Hindi,
Hindi ka mag-iisa.
Hindi ka mag-iisang tumahak
Sa ganitong landas, dalawa tayong tatapak.

Sundin mo ang takbo ng lahat
at pagdating sa dulo ng di masipat
Kapwa natin matatantong, mabuti,
Mabuti at pinili mong maglakbay ditong
Kasama ako.

04/19/2007

Friday, April 13, 2007

Balota

Una si Pong, ang kamag-aral ko sa elementarya. Matagal na niya akong kinukumbinse. Alang-alang daw sa anim na taon naming pagiging magkaklase at magkatabi sa row one. Ilakad ko naman daw sa mga kamag-anakan ko ang pinsan niyang kandidato sa pagka- Vice Governor. Sabi ko, "titingnan ko." Aba'y humirit pa, huwag ko raw basta tingnan, kundi gawin ko.

Sa lalapit naman ang kamag-aral ko ng high school na si Egay, kakandidato pala siya sa pagka-konsehal ng aming bayan. Nagulat ako dahil para kakong masyado pa siyang bata para doon. Natawa pa ang loko nang tanungin ko kung bakit hiundi muna siya mag-SK. Andiyan naman daw ang tatay niya na ex-councilor ng bayan namin. Naiiling na lang akong lumayo. Tingnan mo nga naman, paano kayang aaktong konsehal ang isang magaling mangopya at kilalang pilyo. Akala yata'y panay pagpapa-cute lang ang mundo ng konseho. Sabi ko na lang "titingnan ko."

Nung Linggo naman, paglabas ko ng simbahan, sinimplehan ako ni Tiyo Gusting. Sino daw ba ang dadalhin ko sa pagka-Vice Mayor. Tahimik lang ako. Baka naman daw kalimutan ko pa yung pamangkin niya sa pinsan na asawang kauli ng inaanak ng bilas ng lolo sa tuhod ng namayapa niyang asawa. Bilang paggalang ko na lamang daw sa kaluluwa ng aking Tiya Ester ay dalhin ko na si Tangkad at sa hanay naman ng mga Senador ay bibigyan niya ako ng listahan. Yung Mayor daw na katiket ni Tangkad, huwag na huwag ko raw di dadalhin dahil kapag natalo iyon ay siguradong hihina ang sabungan sa amin. Ayun! Lumabas din ang tunay na motibo. Nasabi ko na lang na paiwas, "titingnan ko po."

Ah si Nanay . . . medyo mabigat ang hiling ng Nanay ko. Yung Ninong daw niya na kandidato sa pagka-Mayor ay susuportahan ng buong pamilya namin. Kasubuan na raw. Mangangatwiran pa sana ako pero pinandilatan na niya ako, sasama din daw ako sa pangangampanya. Wika kong paungol, "titingnan ko po." Nagkaroon pa tuloy ako ngayon ng problema. Mahigpit kasing magkalaban ang manok ni Nanay at ang bata ni Tata Gusting. Pareho ko silang iginagalang at ayaw ko silang biguin hanggang maaari.

Si Tata Gusting na mula pagkabata ay laging nariyan para sa akin. Ngayon ngang kaya ko ng gumanti ay ayaw pa ring tatanggap. At ang sabi pa niya, ngayon lamang daw siya hihiling sa akin. Si Nanay naman, bilang kanyang panganay, malaki ang paniniwala niyang maiimpluwensiyahan ko ang mga nakababata kong kapatid.

Pareho ko silang mahal, pareho ko silang iginagalang, haaay, pero paano naman ang gusto ko?