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| The Giving Tree, by Shel Silverstein |
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 I love this book...it does not say, but it has many references to God. My sister, our Youth Minister's wife, read this to her youth girls. I encourage you to purchase one, it is wonderful! Without giving the contents of the book, I will attempt to summarize some of it with a story.
{Illustrations are not the same as the book}
Once there was a tree
that loved a little boy.
The boy would come daily and play in her leaves.
and make them into crowns and play king of the forest. 
He would climb up her trunk, swing from her long branches and play with this tree.
 and eat apples.
And they would play hide-and-go-seek. 
And when he was tired, he would sleep in her shade.
The boy loved the tree
very much. 
And the tree was happy.
As years went by
And the boy grew older.
the tree was often alone.
The boy asks for many things in the nicest way...money, and the tree gives what it can to fulfill the need.
Now past youth age, the man asks for a house for now he wants a family
the tree gave what it could to meet the need.
The tree was still happy and enjoyed fulfilling all the needs of the man.
When the man was old, he came back to the tree.
The old man wanted to 'get away' from life and the daily factors that bring us closer or away from God. That tree gave again.
Now, just a stump, the tree sat sad.
For the boy who loved the tree was no where to be found, he was off doing his own thing.
The tree saw many needs as he sat there in the forest. For it was in the forest that people would come and cry...it was not okay to show emotion in the town.
The tree saw a little 6 year old girl, Esther, whose cancer came back she had survived last year.
The tree saw a single mom who was too tired by the system and trying to get on her feet with no education, meeting daycare prices from an $8.00/hour job. the job expented her to work whatever shifts whenever they posted it...which left her frazzled, and her support-system not wanting to add any more than they barely and comfortely {for them} what they gave; so they stopped helping her all together...even though she had no control and had no other choices available.
Yesterday, she signed over her children to the State. She can not do 'life' any more.
A college student has been living with her boyfriend. Her home life is horrible and she has no other choice. As usual, employers and college expect you to do a bunch with nothing. She spoke to her dad, who was not a good rolemoedl in her life, but better than her mom...whom was a professional stripper. Her dad did encourage her to move out, but the boyfriend pays half of the bills and she does not qualify for state assistance due to making $20.00 too much. Her dad finally offered his home to her, but she knew the 'rules' and her not being able to be an adult would suffocate her. Not that she was doing anything wrong, but her childhood home was pure hell and nothing had changed. She quit school yesterday and started in the profession her mom has, just so she can eat and have the basics of life.
After a long time, the man came back to the tree, he was old and withered, worn from his years. The tree had nothing to offer...his apples, leaves, limbs, trunk, were gone, used.
The man said, well I don't need much now. So he sat on the stump of the tree. And the tree was happy.
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| To add a comment to "The Giving Tree, by Shel Silverstein" |
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| January 21, 2009 |
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Thanks for sharing this with us Cheryl!
Blessings In Him... :o)
Herman |
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| January 21, 2009 |
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| Thank you so very much for sharing, Cheryl. May God continue to bless you & hold you very close to Him. You are truly a blessing. |
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| January 21, 2009 |
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| A true example of agape' giving ! Thanks Sis! |
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| January 21, 2009 |
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| Thanks Cheryl |
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| January 21, 2009 |
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Thank you, I will be looking for the book. |
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| January 21, 2009 |
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| The scenarios have been restated but are true. |
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| January 21, 2009 |
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| Oh wow. |
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| January 21, 2009 |
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| So pleased to see someone who appreciates Shel Silverstein! |
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| January 21, 2009 |
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| Sounds very good :-)) |
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| January 21, 2009 |
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;) The book used to be banned....due to the references underskirted toward God.
How cool really!! |
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