I’m a Little Fir Tree
Esther Schönwandt
In the heart of a snowy forest, surrounded by towering giants, there stood a tiny fir tree. She was slender, her needles soft and bright green. All around her were older, taller firs whose branches reached high into the crisp winter sky.
“I’m just a little fir tree,” she sighed one day, watching a family pick the biggest tree for their holiday celebration. “All the other trees are bigger than me. What if no one ever wants me for Christmas?”
The taller trees chuckled gently. “Patience, little one,” they said. “We were once small like you. Your time will come.”
But the little fir tree was unsure. Every day she dreamed of wearing twinkling lights, glittering ornaments, and a golden star on her topmost branch. She imagined children’s laughter, the warmth of a cozy home, and the joy of being part of something so magical.
One cold December morning, as snowflakes danced down from the sky, a kind-hearted woodcutter entered the forest. He was searching for a tree, not for himself, but for a small orphanage on the edge of town.
“Ah, this one’s too tall,” he said, looking up at a towering fir. “And this one’s too wide. I need something… just right.”
As he wandered closer to the little fir tree, she held her breath. “He wouldn’t pick me,” she thought. “I’m much too small.”
But to her surprise, the woodcutter stopped in front of her and smiled. “Perfect,” he said softly. “You may be little, but you’ll bring big joy to those children.”
Gently, he carried her to the orphanage, where the children gasped with delight. “Oh, she’s beautiful!” they cried, decorating her with strings of popcorn, paper chains, and homemade ornaments. At the very top, they placed a star made of gold foil.
For the first time, the little fir tree sparkled with happiness. She might not have been the tallest or the grandest tree in the forest, but in the glow of candlelight and laughter, she felt like the most special tree in the world.
That Christmas, she stood proudly, knowing she had brought warmth and wonder to a group of children who needed it most. And as the snow fell gently outside, she whispered to herself, “Maybe being little isn’t so bad after all.”
From that day on, the little fir tree no longer worried about growing up. She realized that it wasn’t about size or age—it was about the joy she could bring, no matter how small she might be.
2024