Apple Tree

A long time ago, there was a huge apple tree. A little boy loved to come and
play around it everyday. He climbed to the treetop, ate the apples, took a
nap under the shadow...he loved the tree and the tree loved to play with
him.

Time went by...the little boy had grown up and he no longer played around
the tree every day. One day, the boy came back to the tree and he looked
sad. "Come and play with me" the tree asked the boy. "I am no longer a kid,
I do not play around trees any more" the boy replied. I want toys. I need
money to buy them." "Sorry, but I do not have money... but you can pick all
my apples and sell them. So, you will have money." The boy was so excited.
He grabbed all the apples on the tree and left happily.

The boy never came back after he picked the apples. The tree was sad. One
day, the boy who now turned into a man returned and the tree was excited
"Come and play with me" the tree said. "I do not have time to play. I have
to work for my family. We need a house for shelter. Can you help me?" "
Sorry, but I do not have any house. But you can chop off my branches to
build your house." So the man cut all the branches of the tree and left
happily. The tree was glad to see him happy but the man never came back
since then. The tree was again lonely and sad.

One hot summer day, the man returned and the tree was delighted. "Come and play with me!" the tree said. "I am getting old. I want to go sailing to
relax myself. Can you give me a boat?" said the man. "Use my trunk to build
your boat. You can sail far away and be happy." So the man cut the tree
trunk to make a boat. He went sailing and never showed up for a long time.
Finally, the man returned after many years. "Sorry, my boy. But I do not
have anything for you anymore. No more apples for you ..." the tree said.
"No problem, I do not have any teeth to bite" the man replied. "No more
trunk for you to climb on" "I am too old for that now" the man said.
"I really cannot give you anything... the only thing left is my dying
roots" the tree said with tears. "I do not need much now, just a place to
rest. I am tired after all these years" the man replied. "Good! Old tree
roots are the best place to lean on and rest, Come, come sit down with me
and rest." The man sat down and the tree was glad and smiled with tears...

This is a story of everyone

The tree is like our parents.

When we were young, we loved to play with our Mum 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 to 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.

Dear Ravi,
This piece is really heart rendring.Tears flew thro my eyes as i read it.The world is becoming more materialistic & values are being forgotten.But who is right & wrong is individual"s perception.
ranga

karuna

wonderful piece...and how true ...we never realize until it is too late...Then we have only regret left...there is never one more chance to redeem..

warm regards

karthik

Karthik, Ranga,

Fact of life. We will also be apple trees as we are the little boys

Regards,
Karuna

To All

Is it too late to realise even now?

Pankaj

Pankaj

It is too late if the apple tree is not there anymore to lean and rest ..................

Sure I agree
Pankaj

What a powerful message Ravi. Very accurate in it's point made. Am a Grand-Parent now & am so touched by this message.

Mind blowing. Very touching.

Thanks,
nkpanjiyar

Very touching,Karuna........great stuff!!

Saint