The Giving Tree

In a lush, green forest stood a solitary tree. Its branches stretched wide, offering shade to anyone who passed by. The tree wasn’t like others in the forest—it could feel joy and sorrow, but most of all, it loved to give.

One day, a weary traveler stumbled upon the tree. His clothes were tattered, and his face was lined with exhaustion. “Oh, kind tree,” he said, “I have been walking for days. I am hungry and thirsty. Can you help me?”

The tree rustled its leaves softly. “Take my fruit,” it said, lowering a branch heavy with ripe, golden pears. The traveler ate until he was full and slept under the tree’s shade.

As the years passed, the traveler returned many times. Each time, his needs grew greater.

“Tree, I need wood to build a home,” he said one spring.

“Take my branches,” the tree offered, its voice steady despite the loss. The traveler built a sturdy home and was grateful.

Years later, the traveler came back, now older but burdened with worry. “Tree, I need a boat to sail across the seas. My family is far, and I wish to see them.”

“Cut my trunk,” the tree whispered. “Build your boat and be with those you love.”

The traveler hesitated, but he did as the tree said. He built a fine boat and set sail, leaving the stump behind.

Decades passed. The tree, now just a stump, stood quietly in the forest. Its leaves were gone, and its branches no longer swayed in the breeze. It missed the traveler but found peace in the thought of all it had given.

One day, a very old man returned to the forest. He looked at the stump and smiled sadly. “Oh, tree,” he said, “I have nothing left. My body is frail, and my journey is at its end.”

The stump’s voice was soft but full of love. “Come, sit upon me and rest. That is all I have left to give.”

The man sat, his heart full of gratitude. And together, they shared the quiet, a bond unbroken by time.