(As told by Donna Sife)
There was once an apple tree in the middle of a forest. Because apple trees are usually smaller than forest trees it would look up and see the branches of the other trees hanging over it. At night it would see stars and because the branches of the other trees were hanging over it the apple tree thought the stars were in the branches of the bigger trees.
Consequently, the apple tree started to wish that it had stars in its branches, just like the bigger trees.
It prayed and prayed to have stars in its branches.
The seasons rolled by and it was spring. The apple tree had beautiful blossoms. People would stop by and comment about how pretty it was and how beautiful it smelled. God said to the apple tree: “everyone who passes by notices how special you are. Aren’t you happy with that?” The little apple tree would just sigh and say “All I want is to have stars in my branches”.
Spring turned into summer and the apple tree was covered in beautiful leaves and the buds of fruit. Again people would come and have their picnics under the shade of the tree and they laughed and played and loved being around the apple tree. Still it was not happy and looked wistfully up into the night sky and saw the stars in the branches of the big trees and felt as though it was missing something.
Summer became autumn. The apples on the tree became big and juicy and people would come by and pick the apples and comment about how crisp and sweet they tasted. God again asked the apple tree: “Everyone rejoices in you. They love the beautiful flowers and perfume of spring and the shade of summer. Later they eat your apples and are grateful for the beautiful fruit you provide. Isn’t that enough?” Still the apple tree could only answer with: “all I want is to have stars in my branches.”
One day a little child came along and picked an apple. Before he ate it he cut it in half. Now, most people cut an apple down the middle and this is what they get.
But, because he didn’t know the ‘right’ way to cut an apple he boy cut the it differently and this is what he found.
There in the middle of every apple was star. And so, the little apple tree had its prayers answered. But, not in the way it expected.