The Boy and the Apple Tree
The Boy and the Apple Tree
There was once a little boy who loved playing beside a large apple tree filled with branches and covered with fruit.
Every day, the boy would come to the tree, climb its branches, eat its apples, and when he became tired, he would lie beneath its shade and fall asleep.
Years passed, and the boy grew older. He became busy with his life and stopped visiting the tree.
After a long time, he returned one day, but he was no longer the little boy he used to be.
He was sad, and there was worry in his eyes.
The tree was happy to see him again and said:
"Come and play with me."
The man replied:
"I am no longer a little boy. I have grown up, and I need some money to buy the things I need."
The tree said:
"I have no money, but take my apples and sell them. You can use the money to buy whatever you need."
The man was happy. He gathered the apples, then left with a smile on his face.
Many more years passed...
Then the man returned again.
The tree welcomed him happily and said:
"Come and play with me."
He replied:
"I have become a grown man. I have a family and responsibilities, and I need a house to live in."
The tree said:
"I do not have a house to give you, but you can take my branches and use them to build your home."
The man took the tree's branches, used them to build what he needed, and then left.
Many more years passed...
The tree remained alone, waiting for him to return.
Then, one day, the man came back.
The tree was overjoyed to see him and said:
"Come and play with me."
The man replied:
"I have grown very old. I want to rest from the burdens of life. I want to sail far away from people, but I do not have a boat."
The tree said:
"Take part of my trunk and build yourself a boat. Then you can go wherever you wish."
The man cut away a large part of the tree's trunk, built a boat, and sailed away.
Many long years passed...
Then the man returned to the tree one final time.
The tree had become very weak, and there was almost nothing left that it could give him.
It said sadly:
"I am sorry. I have nothing left to give you."
Then it added:
"I have no apples left."
The man replied:
"That is alright. I no longer have teeth to eat apples."
The tree continued:
"And I have no branches left for you to climb."
He said:
"I do not need them anymore. I am too old to climb."
The tree said sadly:
"I have almost nothing left."
The man looked at the tree and said:
"All I want now is a place to rest. I am tired of this life, and I simply want somewhere to sit and rest."
The tree replied:
"Come... sit by my roots and rest here as long as you wish."
The man sat beside its roots, leaned his back against the tree, and finally felt at peace.
After all those years, the tree had never asked him for anything.
Every time he returned, it gave him something.
Its apples when he needed money.
Its branches when he needed a home.
Its trunk when he wanted a boat.
And in the end, when almost everything was gone, it still gave him its roots so that he could have a place to rest.
The Lesson:
Sometimes, we do not realize the value of those who love us until we have taken everything they are able to give.
The story reminds us of the blessing of having parents. A father and mother give their children their time, health, strength, and years without expecting anything in return except to see their children well.
So do not wait until you grow old.
Do not wait until your parents become weak.
And do not wait until there is nothing left for them to give.
Appreciate their presence while they are still beside you.
Some blessings are only truly appreciated after they are gone.