I’m reminded of the Shel Silverstein classic The Giving Tree which I felt compelled to share with you.
Once there
was a tree.... and she loved a 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 eat apples
and when he was tired, he would sleep in her shade.
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 things and have fun. I want 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 the city. Then you will have money and you will be happy." And so the boy climbed 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. Then one day the boy came
back and the tree shook with joy and she said, "Come, Boy, climb up my
trunk and swing from my branches 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, 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 his house. And the tree was
happy. But the boy stayed away for a long time.
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 far 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 apples," 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. Sit down and rest." And the boy did. And the tree was happy.
This classic has been interpreted in many ways; I’d just like
to leave you with this.
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