A long ago, there lived a huge apple tree offering
tasty apples to the people. A little boy became close friend to the
apple tree. The boy used to play with the tree, climb the branches,
sleep under the shadow, pluck apples, etc. Every day he visited the
tree, and ate apples. The apple tree was so kind to the boy and enjoyed
spending time with the little boy.
The boy joined school and could not
spend any time with the apple tree. After several months the boy came
to the apple tree. The tree was so happy to see the boy and asked him
to play with it.
The boy said that he was not a little one to play with the trees. But he had another request to the tree.
The tree asked what he wanted. The boy
said that he needed toys to play, but his parents did not have
sufficient money to buy toys for him.
The tree replied, ‘Dear boy, I do not
have any money to buy toys for you, but you can pick the apples, sell
them, get money and buy the toys you need.’
The apple tree was eagerly waiting to
see the boy return. The boy went happily after plucking apples, but
never returned for several years.
The tree was so sad and it did not produce any apples thereafter.
After almost 10 years, the boy returned
to the apple tree as a youngster. The apple tree immediately recognized
the boy and was happy to see him. The tree asked him to play again.
The boy said, ‘I’m sorry I don’t have
time to play with you as I have to work. We are building new home and
need some wood for it. Can you please help me?
The apple tree replied, ‘Oh my dear boy, please cut my branches and get the needed quantity of wood, as much as you want.’
The boy started to cut the branches of
the tree and left the place. After several years, the boy returned as a
middle aged man to the tree. The tree, which was waiting for years to
see the boy, was quite delighted.
The apple tree asked, ‘Can you play with me now?’
The boy, who is now an aged man replied,
‘I’m old now and I want to relax myself from heavy work. I need a boat
to sail to various places. Can you help me?’
The apple tree replied, ‘Oh my dear boy, I don’t have a boat for you, but you can cut my trunk and make a boat.’
The man cut the trunk of the tree and made the boat. He happily sailed to various places but never returned to the tree again, which now has only the roots!
The man cut the trunk of the tree and made the boat. He happily sailed to various places but never returned to the tree again, which now has only the roots!
After two decades, the boy returned to the tree as an old man.
The tree recognized him and told, ‘Oh my dear boy, now I have nothing to give to you!’
The old man said, ‘I just need rest, just give me a place’
The apple tree, ‘Come on my dear, take rest in my roots! Good old roots are the best place to have peace and rest!’
The man smiled with tears!
Shel Silverstein
This is a story of everyone. The tree is like our parents. When we were young, we loved to play with our Mom and Dad. When we grow up, we leave them; only come to them when we need something or when we are in trouble. No matter what, parents will always be there and give everything they could just make you happy.
You may think the boy is cruel to the tree, but that is how all of us treat our parents. We take them for granted; we don't appreciate all they do for us, until it's too late.
MORAL: Treat your parents with loving care.
For you will know their value, when you see their empty chair.
We never know the love of our parents for us; until we have become parents .
