My wife read “The Giving Tree” by Shel Silverstein to my oldest daughter for the first time when she was five. The story is about a tree who keeps giving selflessly to the boy, hence the title. At the end of the story she peered over to my little girl who was crying. Tears flowed down her little cheeks at this beautiful story of a boy and a tree.

On this Good Friday, I keep thinking about our Giving God. Withholding nothing, pouring everything, He is the ultimate giver. And our eyes should fill with tears at his generous love.

Jesus gave us his truth. Jesus gave us his healing. Jesus gave us his service. Jesus gave us his tears. Jesus gave us his body. Jesus gave us Himself.

Philippians 2 ⁵Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus:
⁶ Who, being in very nature God,
did not consider equality with God something to be grasped,
⁷ but made himself nothing,
taking the very nature of a servant,
being made in human likeness.
⁸ And being found in appearance as a man,
he humbled himself
and became obedient to death—
even death on a cross!
⁹ Therefore God exalted him to the highest place
and gave him the name that is above every name,
¹⁰ that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
¹¹ and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.

Look at his momentum of condescension: God, servant, human, death, cross. We keep wanting to go higher, to grasp our self-glory. He keeps humbling himself so that he can identify with us, serve us, die for us, give himself to us.

Thank you for giving us yourself. Thank you for the cross. Thank you for Good Friday. Like the little boy, I took your branches, your apples, and your trunk. You saw me get more jaded as I got older yet you waited patiently for me. Here I am sitting on the stump of your love. You. Me. Together. Enough.

A simple prayer for myself: In this life, as long as I have something to give, may I give it to those in need. Help me not to hoard with a tight fist but give with an open hand. I pray God’s generous and loving heart will be shown through my giving.

Edit: Ironically, I found one of my sons later on Good Friday doing this. Yes, this was after I wrote the post. And yes, my boy is peeling the bark off the tree. For what, I have no idea. The blog is prophetic folks.

The Giving Tree

Once there was a tree… And she loved little boy. And every day the boy would come and he would gather her leaves And make them into crowns and play king of the forest. He would climb up her trunk And swing from her branches And when he was tired, he would sleep in her shade.
And the boy loved the tree…Very much… And the tree was happy.

But time went by, And the boy grew older. And the tree was often alone. Then one day the boy came to the tree and the tree said:
–”Come, Boy, come and climb up my trunk and swing from my branches and eat apples and play in my shade and be “happy”
–“I am too big to climb and play”said the boy. “I want to buy thing and have fun. I want some money. Can you give me some money?”
–”I’m sorry” said the tree,”but I have no money. I have only leaves and apples. Take my apples, Boy, and sell them in city. Then you will have money and you’ll be happy”

And so the boy climb up the tree and gathered her apples and carried them away. And the tree was happy. But the boy stayed away for a long time… and the tree was sad. And then one day the boy came back and the tree shook with joy, and she said:
–”Come, Boy come and climb up my trunk and swing from my branches and eat apples and play in my shade and be “happy”..
–“I am too busy to climb trees,” said the boy. “I want a house to keep me warm,” he said. “I want a wife and I want children, and so I need a house. Can you give me a house?”
–“I have no house” said the tree.The forest is my house.” said the tree “but you may cut off my
branches and build a house. Then you will be happy” And so the boy cut off her branches and carried them away to build a house. And the tree was happy.

But the boy stayed away for a long time……and the tree was sad. And when he came back, the tree was so happy she could hardly speak.
–“Come, Boy” she whispered, “Come and play”
–“I am too old and sad to play.”said the boy. “I want a boat that will take me away from here. Can you give me a boat ?”
–“Cut down my trunk and make a boat,” said the tree. “Then you can sail away…… and be happy.”

And so the boy cut down her trunk And made a boat and sailed away.
And the tree was happy…..But not really.
And after a long time the boy came back again.
–“I am sorry, Boy,”said the tree, “but I have nothing left to give you— My apples are gone.”
–“My teeth are too weak for apple,”said the boy.
–“My branches are gone,” said the tree.”You cannot swing on them—”
–”I am too old to swing on branches” said the boy.
–“My trunk is gone,” said the tree.“You cannot climb—-”
–”I am too tired to climb,” said the boy.
–“I am sorry” sighed the tree. “I wish that I could give you something… but I have nothing left. I am just an old stump. I am sorry…”
–”I don’t need very much now” said the boy. “just a quiet place to sit and rest. I am very tired”
–“Well” said the tree, straightening herself up as much as she could, “well, an old stump is good for sitting and resting. Come, Boy, sit down…and rest.”

And the tree was happy..

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