Gimme Gimme Gimme

Preface:

The Giving Tree by Shel SilverStein

"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 they would play

hide-and-go-seek.

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.

Thne 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.

Can you give me some money?"

" I am 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.

And 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 my 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

The End

____________________________

And the tree lives on...

"For there is hope for a tree,

If it is cut down, that it will sprout again,

And that its tender shoots will not cease.

Though its root may grow old in the earth,

And its stump may die in the ground,

Yet at the scent of water it will bud

And bring forth branches like a plant." Job 14: 7-9

" For God so loved the world that he gave..."

John 3:16

The heart of parenting is giving and giving and giving.

But there comes a time when the little boys and girls grow up,

and learn to give back in return.