weeklyred

w ou

texturized worship

every saturday at 1:30 p.m.

club fathom

412 market street

chattanooga, tn

01.31.04

The Giving Tree

reader's theater
story by Shel Silverstein

Once there was a giving tree who loved a little boy.

And everyday the boy would come to play

Swinging from the branches, sleeping in the shade

Laughing all the summer's hours away.

And so they love,

Oh, the tree was happy.

Oh, the tree was glad.
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But soon the boy grew older
and one day he came and said,
"Can you give me some money, tree,
to buy something I've found?"

"I have no money," said the tree,
"Just apples, twigs and leaves."
"But you can take my apples, boy,
and sell them in the town."

And so he did and

Oh, the tree was happy.
Oh, the tree was glad.

But soon again the boy came back
and he said to the tree,
"I'm now a man and I must have a house
that's all my home."

"I can't give you a house" she said,

"The forest is my house."
"But you may cut my branches off
and build yourself a home"

And so he did.
Oh, the tree was happy.
Oh, the tree was glad.

And time went by and the boy came back
with sadness in his eyes.

"My life has turned so cold," he says,
"and I need sunny days."

"I've nothing but my trunk," she says,
"But you can cut it down
And build yourself a boat and sail away."
And so he did and
Oh, the tree was happy.
Oh, the tree was glad.

And after years the boy came back,
both of them were old.

"I really cannot help you if you ask for another gift."
"I'm nothing but an old stump now.
I'm sorry but I've nothing more to give"

"I do not need very much now,
just a quiet place to rest,"
The boy, he whispered, with a weary smile.

"Well", said the tree,
"An old stump is still good for that."

"Come, boy", she said,
"Sit down, sit down and rest a while."
And so he did.

Oh, the trees was happy.

Oh, the tree was glad.

Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves it when the giver delights in the giving.

2 Corinthians 9:7