THE TALE
OF THE
BONSAI
NOTE FROM THE AUTHOR
A Bonsai tree is a miniature version of a full-grown tree.
Most assume that Bonsai trees come from special Bonsai
seeds.
These tiny trees are actually grown from the exact same
seeds as full-grown trees. The factors that make them small
(or “Bonsai”) are the space their roots are given to grow,
along with careful pruning of the branches.
Bonsais are grown in small pots or trays, allowing the roots
only a small amount of room to expand.
There once was a seed planted in a little pot.
Little by little, she grew until her roots reached the sides of
her elegant blue and white porcelain pot. She was a
beautiful little tree. She was a Bonsai.
Little Tree would watch the trees outside and wonder how
they grew to be so big. They looked like her…just much,
much bigger.
She would watch the trees sway in the wind, casting
shadows on the ground from their large canopies.
Among the trees was The Gardener. Little Tree watched him
as he walked from tree to tree, tending to the needs of each
one. The trees loved him so much, and she could tell that he
loved them even more. Each time Little Tree watched from
the window, The Gardener would look up, smile, and wave
at her.
Little Tree wanted to know him, but he was so far away! “If
only he could come in and see me,” she thought, as she
looked down at the shiny mahogany desk on which she sat.
Just then, the door opened and in walked The Gardener. He
smiled gently and Little Tree timidly smiled back. He sat
down.
“So, Little Tree,” he said, “what are you doing in here?”
Little Tree wasn’t sure what he meant.
“I’ve always been here,” she replied. “It’s where I
belong…right?”
The Gardener smiled and gazed at the trees below.
Little Tree wondered what he was thinking. The Gardener
stood up and said, “I will come again tomorrow.” And he
walked out the door.
“What am I doing in here?’ Little Tree thought.
She had always thought that she was meant to be a Bonsai.
But The Gardener seemed to know something she didn’t.
As night fell, Little Tree thought of the people who would
come to see her. They seemed to admire the fact that she
was small. In fact, they would sometimes go to great lengths
to keep her that way – trimming branches that grew too high,
and even using wire to shape her just the way they wanted.
She was “perfect” to them.
“If everyone wants me to be this way,” Little Tree wondered
as she fell asleep, “what did The Gardener mean?”
Morning came, and Little Tree watched as the sun poured
through the leaves of the trees outside. She watched the
mother birds fly into the nests that were tucked so safely in
the branches. She admired the large trees for being able to
provide shelter.
“I wonder how those trees got so lucky.” She said aloud.
A voice answered back, “They started out just like you.”
Little Tree turned and saw The Gardener. He had returned,
just as he had promised.
“But I came from a Bonsai seed.” Little Tree argued, with a
bit of sadness in her voice.
“There is no such thing!” The Gardener explained. He
motioned to the window. “You came from the same seed
they did.”
“Then why am I so small?” The puzzled Little Tree asked.
“Only because of your pot.” The Gardener replied. “I have to
go now, but I will be back again tomorrow.” Smiling, he left
the room.
“My pot?” Little Tree was baffled. How could it be so simple?
All her life, she thought she was small because she was
created to be that way. She looked at the trees outside and
wondered, “Could it be true? Could I really be from the same
seed as they are?”
She looked down at her lovely pot. It was made just for her.
She was comfortable in it, and she enjoyed the attention she
got when passers by admired it.
Then her eyes wandered back to the window.
All day, she watched the trees outside and noticed they were
not only beautiful and admired, as she was, they were
providing goodness and resources to people and creatures
around them.
There was the apple tree with its crisp, sweet fruit that would
ripen soon. Then there was the maple tree with its sprawling
branches that created shade and shelter. The oak tree was
home to many animals. And the cherry tree, her favorite, had
such breathtaking pale pink blossoms that the children
outside couldn’t help but climb in her branches.
It seemed that each tree had something uniquely important
to give.
Watching the trees now in the sunset, Little Tree longed to
be like them. She knew that she had the power inside to
grow. The Gardener said so.
“But how?” Little Tree pondered. And she fell asleep.
As she slept, Little Tree dreamed of what it would be like to
be a full-grown tree.
Her roots sprawled for what felt like miles, deep into the
earth.
Her branches reached upward, urging the eyes of all who
saw her toward heaven.
Little Tree felt the warmth of the sun on her leaves and she
knew this was what she wanted. But the reality of her current
size crept back in, and she doubted she would ever have the
chance.
When she woke, The Gardener was sitting there with his
warm, loving smile.
Tears came to Little Tree’s eyes as she pled, “please, tell me
how I can grow to be my full size. I have lived my whole life
as a Bonsai. Is it too late?”
Little Tree saw light in The Gardener’s eyes as he answered,
“It is never too late.”
“But…how?” She implored.
“With my help.” He said softly.
“You see,” he continued, “you came from a good seed. Your
roots simply don’t have the room they need to grow. If you
give your roots the chance, you will grow and reach your full
size.”
Little Tree lit up. She wanted so badly to be a full-grown tree,
and knowing that it was possible was very exciting to her.
But then she paused. She thought of the other Bonsai trees
and wondered what they would think. Would they mock her
for trying to be like the full-sized trees? And what if she
failed?
Seeing her concerned expression, The Gardener picked her
up.
“Little Tree,” he said, “this is not going to be easy. Other
Bonsais may mock you, and the wind will try to tear you
down. But all of this will make you stronger. Trust me, and I
will help you grow.”
Little Tree looked at her elegant, cozy pot once more. She
glanced at the other Bonsais and watched the people who
gave her so much praise and attention. Could she really do
this? Did The Gardener really know what she needed?
She glanced at the large trees outside, took a deep breath,
and looked at The Gardener.
“I trust you. You know what I need. I know it will not be easy,
but I know that, with your help, I have the ability to bring so
much more to people around me. With your help, I will be
strong enough to grow.”
The Gardener smiled, lifted Little Tree out of her pot, and
walked out into the sunshine.
About the Author
Shalon Ironroad is a music-playing, bookreading, nature-loving, work-at-home wife and
mother of three, residing in Arlington, Virginia.
She is the Executive Assistant and Office
Manager at MoneyZen Wealth Management,
LLC.