The Ugly Tree

Once upon a time in a dense forest, there stood many tall, strong, and beautiful trees. They had straight trunks, lush green leaves, and elegant branches that stretched toward the sky. Birds loved building nests in them, animals rested under their shade, and the wind danced joyfully through their branches. But among them stood one crooked, twisted, and rather ugly tree. Its bark was rough, its branches bent in strange ways, and it looked nothing like the others. The beautiful trees often mocked it. “Look at your knobby trunk,” they laughed. “No one will ever choose you for anything useful!” The Ugly Tree felt sad and lonely. “Why am I so different?” it often wondered. “Why did nature make me like this?” Despite its sorrow, the Ugly Tree remained kind. Birds still perched on its limbs, and squirrels still scampered along its bark. It gave shelter, even if it was never praised. One day, a woodcutter entered the forest. Axe in hand, he walked through the trees, looking for straight, tall trunks to chop down. “These trees are perfect for building houses and furniture,” he said, marking the beautiful ones with red paint. When he reached the Ugly Tree, he paused. “Hmm… this one is too twisted. It’s useless for woodwork.” And he walked away. The Ugly Tree sighed with relief. For once, its odd shape had saved its life. Days turned to weeks, and more woodcutters came. One by one, the tall, proud trees were chopped down and taken away. The forest became thinner and quieter. But the Ugly Tree stood untouched. Birds returned to nest in its limbs, deer rested under its branches, and children from the nearby village came to play in its shade. Eventually, the Ugly Tree understood something important. “I may not be beautiful, but I have value. I offer shelter, protection, and joy. I am loved, not for how I look—but for what I give.”