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Find out what role
you play in your loved one's lives. Are you the Gardner,
the Lord of the castle, a Visitor, a Flowering Plant,
or the Tree? Read the Parable and decide.
1. A Tree
is planted in the garden at a Lord's castle. The Tree
cannot move. It belongs to the Lord and is planted firmly.
The Gardner is responsible for pruning the tree. He
cuts off bad branches, cleans the soil around the tree
- soil nourishes the Tree and is very important. Bad
soil alone can kill the Tree. The Gardner helps the
Tree's fruit to grow. The Gardner collects the fruit
and gives it to the Lord because the Tree, and all it
bears, belongs to him. It is his Tree! The Lord appreciates
the Gardner looking after his Tree and gives him the
first and best of the fruit.
2. The Lord
of this castle has many prized possessions. His castle,
stables, and animals he loves. However, he most loves
his garden. His garden is the creation of himself. He
chose what types of trees, plants and flowers would
be there; where each tree would be placed (front, back,
high importance or barely visible). The Lord also chose
which Gardner would care for his garden. A poor Gardner
can lose an entire crop in one season; whereas, a good
Gardner can sustain a garden for generations with just
a few seeds.
The
Story
The Lord of the castle
came out to the fence surrounding the garden one day and was
angry. He said to the Gardner, "Where are my apple trees?"
"They are here my
Lord," replied the Gardner. "I have pruned them
and they complained, but they bear good fruit. Here taste
and see."
"These are good.
But what of this Tree," the Lord asked. "Is this
not the first tree I picked for my garden? And yet, even with
it's prominence it looks sickly," the Lord responded.
"Should we cut this tree? And, what of it's fruit? Where
are the apples," he asked.
The Gardner explained:
"It is the first tree. I am pruning it, my Lord, and
for a season it cripples the tree. It does not appear as full
as the others. In due time, the branches and leaves will return."
Later, when the Lord
returned to see his garden; he was amazed at how it had grown
and at how lovely it had become. Everyone complimented him
on his beautiful garden and wished to spend time there because
it was pleasing to them. "This tree up front is most
beautiful. Everyone seems to enjoy its branches and fruit;
and yet, my anger is against me," said the Lord to the
Gardner. "Where are the apples?"
"My Lord,"
replied the Gardner. "It is the same first tree that
you planted, but it will never bear apples."
The Lord felt his anger
rise evermore. How dare the Tree - the first tree that he
planted in his garden - defy him and nature and not bear apples!
Before the Lord could
become anymore incensed, the Gardner pulled him aside. He
was beginning to draw stares from the visitors to his garden.
The Gardner again explained: "My Lord, it took a lot
out of the Tree during the pruning process, but as you can
see, it is most beautiful. I have spent many hours with the
Tree alone - watering, improving the soil around the Tree,
pruning dead or dying branches and keeping the crows from
its branches. But, how you can be upset that there are no
apples is a mystery to me?"
"Did you forget,"
the Gardner continued, "that you, my Lord, did not plant
an apple seed for this particular Tree? So you see, a flowering
tree will not yield forth apples."
In that moment, the Lord
noticed that all over his garden were flowering trees. Tree
he had not planted from that one original seed, but that had
been brought forth from the Tree itself.
The Message: Do
not be angry at your garden, until you examine what kind of
seeds you planted.
The Question:
Which character are you in the story? (Review the characters
below.)
The
Characters
The Tree: The
Tree is rooted where it is. It cannot move, but it does serve
a purpose. All of the other flowering trees in the garden
(children/offspring) bring glory to the Tree. However, in
order for the Tree to perform at it's best, it must be pruned
(cut, broken down, criticized, improved) and be planted in
good soil (surrounded by good friends, a great support system).
The Tree is cherished because it was specifically chosen by
the Lord (spouse) and planted first (the spouse of your youth).
And yet, the Tree - flowering as it should (producing offspring,
being pleasant to the visitors of the garden and undergoing
change) - is not appreciated. The owner of the Tree is mad
at the Tree for not being what it assumed - an apple tree.
The owner of the Tree, the Lord of the castle, forgot what
kind of tree he picked and planted in the first place and
had to be reminded. Once reminded by the Gardner, the Lord
remembers how lovely the flowering Tree is and what beauty
it has brought to the garden.
The Gardner: The
Gardner nurtures and takes care of someone else's garden (job,
children, health). The Gardner is constantly at work. Is there
good soil here (what surroundings are created, is there nourishment
available)? Does a tree need pruning (assessing a situation,
trimming a budget, providing constructive criticism)? Are
all the trees in the garden being cared for (delegating duties,
taking care of multiple responsibilities)? Although the Gardner
is rewarded for his effort - he is given the first and best
fruit (receiving a nice paycheck, public recognition, appreciation
for a job well-done) - it is still NOT his garden. The work
is being done on behalf of someone else.
The Lord of the castle:
Is wealthy enough to have a castle and garden to enjoy (stability,
freedom of choices). However, he still needs help from the
Gardner to have a nice garden (desires cannot be achieved
alone). He picks a lovely tree and yet becomes angry at the
tree for being what it is (chose your spouse, but they change
- for the better - after being pruned). The Lord is proud
of the garden (spouse) and even the offspring of the original
Tree (children, family, good works). Yet the Lord often forgets
the Tree's contribution and the glory and joy that it brings
to the visitors of the garden. The Gardner, a good servant,
reminds the Lord of what it right and true.
The Flowering Plants
that came from the Tree: These plants are on the outskirts
of the garden but they are beautiful to behold (family, children).
They are a miniature of the original Tree and yet each has
its own beauty (pleasant to be around, a joy). They draw visitors
into the garden and make the Gardner (the person who has cared
for them) and the Lord of the castle (the owner of the trees)
proud.
A Visitor to the garden:
As a visitor to the garden, you are simply enjoying the labor
of others (someone else's family, church home, financial achievement).
The answer: You
are each character in the story!
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