Alongtimeago,therewasahugeappletree.Alittleboylovedtocomeandlayarounditeveryday.Heclimbedtothetreetop,atetheapples,tookanapundertheshadow...Helovedthetreeandthetreelovedtoplaywithhim.

　　Timewentby...thelittleboyhadgrownupandhenolongerplayedaroundthetreeeveryday.Oneday,theboycamebacktothetreeandhelookedsad.“Comeandplaywithme,”thetreeaskedtheboy.“Iamnolongerakid,Idon’tplayaroundtreesanymore.”Theboyreplied,“Iwanttoys.Ineedmoneytobuythem.”“Sorry,butIdon’thavemoney...butyoucanpickallmyapplesandsellthem.So,youwillhavemoney.”Theboywassoexcited.Hegrabbedalltheapplesonthetreeandlefthappily.Theboynevercamebackafterhepickedtheapples.Thetreewassad.

　　Oneday,theboyreturnedandthetreewassoexcited.“Comeandplaywithme,”thetreesaid.“Idon’thavetimetoplay.Ihavetoworkformyfamily.Weneedahouseforshelter.Canyouhelpme?”“Sorry,butIdon’thaveahouse.Butyoucanchopoffmybranchestobuildyourhouse.”Sotheboycutallthebranchesoffthetreeandlefthappily.Thetreewasgladtoseehimhappybuttheboynevercamebacksincethen.Thetreewasagainlonelyandsad.

　　Onehotsummerday,theboyreturnedandthetreewasdelighted.“Comeandplaywithme!”thetreesaid.“Iamsadandgettingold.Iwanttogosailingtorelaxmyself.Canyougivemeaboat?”“Usemytrunktobuildyourboat.Youcansailfarawayandbehappy.”Sotheboycutthetreetrunktomakeaboat.Hewentsailingandnevershowedupforalongtime.Thetreewashappy,butitwasnottrue.

　　Finally,theboyreturnedafterheleftforsomanyyears.“Sorry,myboy.ButIdon’thaveanythingforyouanymore.Nomoreapplesforyou...”thetreesaid.

　　“Idon’thaveteethtobite,”theboyreplied.

　　“Nomoretrunkforyoutoclimbon.”

　　“Iamtoooldforthatnow,”theboysaid.

　　“Ireallycan’tgiveyouanything...theonlythingleftismydyingroots,”thetreesaidwithtears.

　　“Idon’tneedmuchnow,justaplacetorest.Iamtiredafteralltheseyears.”Theboyreplied.

　　“Good!Oldtreerootsisthebestplacetoleanonandrest.Come,Comesitdownwithmeandrest.”Theboysatdownandthetreewasgladandsmiledwithtears...

　　Thisisastoryofeveryone.Thetreeisourparent.Whenwewereyoung,welovedtoplaywithMomandDad...Whenwegrownup,weleftthem,andonlycametothemwhenweneedsomethingorwhenweareintrouble.Nomatterwhat,parentswillalwaysbethereandgiveeverythingtheycouldtomakeyouhappy.Youmaythinkthattheboyiscrueltothetreebutthat’showallofusaretreatingourparents.

　　Taketimeoutduringthedayforquiettimetolistentoyourinnervoice.Youmaywanttouseyourquiettimetomeditateorpray.Howeveryouusethistime,thekeyistoshutoutallofthenoisearoundyoubyfocusingdeepwithinyourself.Breathingdeeplyduringquiettimewillalsohelpyoufocus.Iknowit’shardtofindquiettimeduringaparticularlybusyday,butit’ssoimportant—evenifit’sjust10minutesadayandyouhavetosneakawaytogetit.Quiettimecanreallymakeadifferenceinyourlife.ItenablesyoutohearGodspeakingtoyourheartremindingyouofHisperfectloveforyou.

　　Behonestwithyourselfbypayingattentiontoyouractions.Actionsspeaklouderthanwords,andtheyalwaystellthetruth.Whatdoyouractionssayaboutyou?Ifyousayyouloveyourjob,butyouractionssayotherwise,whichdoyouth