The Little Tree

The Little Tree

Once upon a time there was a little tree. It was planted in a pot and set aside to grow. For most of the year the little tree was ignored and moved occasionally, and watered when it looked a bit lacklustre. 

The children of the house would play around little tree, and bump and scoot their cars around the pot. The birds would flutter around and look interested but fly off just as quickly. Insects would do their buzz buzz and zoom zoom around little tree and some even stayed a while. Sometimes tree was part of a play or story, but most of the time it stayed quietly in the corner of the yard.

Fine gossamer threads appeared and summer blossoms settles on the branches. A spider laid her eggs in a white silk ball which hung on a dark branch.

The days grew long and hot and the little tree sensed something special was happening. The house children were more excited than usual and were very busy putting pretty shiny balls and long shiny strands on a big tree in the house. At night the big tree in the house had special lights on that twinkled and blinked in pride of place in the big window.

Little tree did not have special lights or strands of gold.   Little tree did not have shiny bells or baubles. 

At last the very special day came. The children rushed to find presents and toys beneath the big glittery tree in the house. They were celebrating the birthday of the one who created everything in the yard and in the great wide world.

Little tree was sad that it could not present itself suitably to the creator on this special day.

Then one of the house children came to little tree and sat down very still and quiet. The dew was shining in the sun, hanging on the gossamer threads.

She gazed at the jewels on the branches. 

She looked at the blossom tufts.

She saw the paper balls hanging on the far away branch.

The little girl smiled. She saw that little tree was arrayed in simple beauty, fit for a king.

Little tree became Christmas Tree that day and even when it was forgotten in the corner, it always knew it was fit for a king.

(c)kerrie