The Giving Tree

When I left my position as Director of Pastoral Care for a continuing care retirement community earlier this year, a resident by the name of Suzanne gave me a copy of The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein. She wrote on the opening page:

 To Dear Julie,

The sentiment of this book so clearly demonstrates your mantra for life - giving to others!

Appreciatively,

Suzanne

March 2015

Many readers believe that The Giving Tree is a parable. How does this story speak to you?

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 we 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 love the tree... very much.  And the tree was happy. But time went by. And the boy grew older. And the tree was often alone.

Then 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 trees shook with joy and she said, “Come, Boy, climb up my trunk and swing from my branches and be happy.”

" I want a house to keep me 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 can 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 too 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 of the boy cut down her trunk and made a boat and sailed away.

And the tree was happy... But not really.

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 the branches, set the boy."

“My trunk is gone,” said the tree. “You cannot climb”

“I am too tired to climb,” said the boy

“I am sorry,” side 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

If The Giving Tree is a parable, I am not sure if I like the lesson. 

I am not sure if I like The Giving Tree as my mantra for life.

I wonder..."When does one give too much?”