Once Upon a Time

Being the first day of school here where I live, thought this story would be appropriate:

Once Upon a Time

Once upon a time in your neighborhood there was a nut.

Not an ordinary nut; a nut that wore a top hat.

You see, other nuts

do not wear hats.

The outside of this nut was quite hard.

You could hear it drop outside in the yard.

Though the outside was different than others

it was what was on the inside that mattered.

You see, inside this nut there was a special seed.

It was not an ordinary seed, no indeed.

This seed was going to grow

into something great, you know.

This seed somehow knew

someday it would grow

into something very special -

just like you are someone special.

After a few days of rain

followed by the warm sun,

this seed began to sprout.

It wanted to get out.

The hard nut shell cracked

as the seed grew fast.

Roots grew down

into the ground.

Branches and limbs

shot up from within.

Soon it was taller than

even the tallest man.

Roots are needed for stability

so it would not tip over, you see.

The branches and limbs provided shade.

That's one reason why this nut was made.

From the branches and limbs grew pretty green leaves.

Now you know this nut grew into a tree.

Not an ordinary tree.

It became a mighty oak tree.

Now an oak tree does not begin life as an oak seed

though maple trees do start life as a maple seed.

The mighty oak tree grows from a little acorn.

An acorn is the nut with the little hat worn.

Next time you go for a hike

or go for a ride on your bike,

be sure to look for acorns

then tell someone what you have learned.

You might even plant an acorn

and watch an oak tree be born

but beware, the squirrels and chipmunks

might eat your acorn for their lunch!

For acorns have two purposes, yes.

One is food for your garden guests,

the other to reproduce itself

and maybe become a bookshelf...

as trees are wood

that one day could

be made into a house, a door, a table, a chair,

or even a tree house hidden in the leaves up there.

Yes, that little nut became something special

as you are growing into someone special

as inside you there's being born

someone special as you grow and learn.

* * * * *

Just like inside the acorn is a seed,

inside each one of us is a seed

waiting to be let out -

wanting to grow and sprout.

Yes, once upon a time before you were even born

God planted in you something special to be formed.

We don't know what it is we are to do or be

but life will show us what it is eventually.

Some people were born to care for others.

These people are nurses and doctors.

Policemen and firemen also care for others

for they like to help people who are in trouble.

Some people were born to be teachers.

Some people like to work with numbers.

Other people like computers

while others become builders.

Some people become farmers

and others are truck drivers.

Each and everyone makes our life better

as we all live life together.

For people encourage others

quite often by being a helper.

Everything that everyone does

is to help one another, it does.

Believe it, you can do

whatever you want to do -

rather an astronaut

or even the president!

Though sometimes life isn't always kind

as weed seeds blow into our minds.

These bad weed seeds

choke out the good seeds.

The weed seeds say, “you can't do that”

or maybe someone will laugh

when you share your dream

to play on a ball team.

Don't listen to those weed seeds

for weed seeds are bad seeds.

Listen to the seeds that say, "yes, you can"

then practice until you're the best you can.

In order to be the very best

you have to practice, practice, practice.

So practice your instrument every day

or whatever sport it is you love to play.

God has made you to do and be someone special

and someday what you do will be influential.

Just like the little acorn grew into a mighty oak tree,

you'll going to grow up to be great, just you want and see!

I can do everything through him

who gives me strength.

Philippians 4:13

We are God's workmanship,

created in Christ Jesus to do good works,

which God prepared in advance for us to do.

Ephesians 2:10

Our God may count you worthy of his calling,

and that by his power he may fulfill every good purpose of yours

and every act prompted by your faith.

II Thessalonians 1:11

Delight yourself in the Lord

and he will give you the desires of your heart.

Psalm 37:4

To order Life Is a Garden Party, Vol II

go to WestBow Press, Amazon or B&N.

To order Life Is a Garden Party, Vol I

go to Amazon or B&N.

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