God was happily sitting on His throne when He noticed that the Earth was getting to be so polluted. He gathered his angels around Him and said to them “I shall send a gift of seed to the Earth. You will bring it to the Earth and each one of you must make sure that it grows to the fullest.” So off the angels went the tiny pip.

One of them brought the seed on his bosom, to guard and protect it. Another laid it on the ground. Another summoned the sun to shine on it. While the last angel asked the clouds to rain on it.

Nothing happened after the rain. So, they all prayed that the seed would grow and become a big beautiful tree so that it could help clean the planet. They waited for it to grow, and grow, and grow. As they watched it develop, they nourished and cared for it.

One day, they saw the huge green tree which their small pale seed had become. They knew that this was no ordinary tree because they saw that it would sway with the wind, point its branches to where the pollution was and would breathe it all in. When it released air, it was as fresh as the smell of grass after the rain during springtime. Its roots found a way to get through the soil to drink the dirt from the water and use it to make its own food. It would turn the water as clear as crystal and sweet as the cleanest liquid anyone could ever taste. But, no matter how much pollution it took in, its leaves remained green and kept growing healthily.

God called His angels once more and said “Job well done, My children. You have helped my seed grow and take care of this pollution. For that, you have pleased your Father.” Then, one angel said “Father, how does the tree stay fresh and continue to grow when it absorbs all the dirt the people on Earth produce?” God replied “Child, although it takes in the dirt, it’s still healthy because it’s happy that every creature on Earth can live a better and cleaner life. The people may not see it, but it watches them laugh and play.”

One day, He heard a little boy named Joseph thanking Him for the tree in his prayers. That night, God appeared to Joseph in a dream. As they talk, God brought Joseph to a place where there was no life – no birds, no trees, no people.

“God, why am I here? What is this place?” asked Joseph.

“This, my son, used to be where your house was.”

“But, God, where is my house? Where are my friends, Jerry and Jonas? Where is my family?

“Just as I have given everyone the task to be stewards of the tree and of the Earth, no one followed as I had commanded. This is what has happened.”

Joseph wept like he had never wept before. The land before him was unrecognizable. The wind was hot, the sun was scorching his skin and the earth, whose soil cracked under his feet, hurt him when he walked on it. No one was there. Nothing was there either. Not his mother nor father, not his sister Jill nor his brother Jeremy. Not even his dog Gilligan.

Once again he spoke to God, tears falling down on his cheek unceasingly, as more waited to fall and pooled on his eyes. “God, can we do something about this?”

“Only if you and everyone on Earth would plant trees and respect nature. Maybe then I put a hedge over the Earth to protect it from destruction.”

“Teach me, Father, and I shall follow you.”

And God showed him how to take care of the tree. God also told him that he should teach everyone to do the same.

When Joseph awoke, he told his mom about the dream and began telling all his friends about the tree. Everyone learned that it is there for a reason and that they should all help in taking care of the tree. Each child knelt down, closed his eyes and prayed that God would send them more seeds to plant. When they opened their eyes, a bee was buzzing above them towards a beautiful, fragrant little flower. They looked at each other. One little girl with soft curls on her hair clapped softly. Joseph, in his happiness, clapped his hands too and soon everyone was dancing for joy. God had answered their prayer.

And God smiled at them.