A Miserable Man, a Magic Tree, and Other Inspiring Tales: Sweet Stories to Uplift the Spirit and Cheer the Heart

By Sharon Lee

When a miserable, grumpy man takes his frustrations out on his neighbor’s tree, he is surprised to find his life changing. A creature suffering from an old, painful wound finds help from an unexpected source. A desperate young man thinks all hope is lost until he unknowingly meets an angel.

Full of sweet life lessons, A Miserable Man, a Magic Tree, and Other Inspiring Tales presents a series of uplifting short stories designed to offer magical fun and teachable values for all ages. Each heartfelt parable shares wholesome biblical principles in a warm, imaginative way and provides the opportunity for reflection through a thought-provoking summary. The tales include themes such as forgiveness, trust, repentance, friendship, and grace.

Heartwarming and earnest, this collection of God-inspired short stories invites readers of all ages to use their imaginations and learn valuable lessons along the way.

• Language: English
• Publisher: WestBow Press
• Release date: Mar 11, 2024
• ISBN: 9798385015412

Sharon Lee

Sharon Lee has worked with children of various ages and backgrounds, including a preschool, a local city youth bureau, and both junior and senior high youth groups. She has a bachelor’s degree in sociology and also in psychology. Sharon cares about people and wildlife. She has been an advocate in the fight against human trafficking and a help to stray and feral animals in need.

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Copyright © 2024 Sharon Lee.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the author except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

This is a work of fiction. All of the incidents, organizations, and dialogue in this book are either the products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. All names utilized herein are not meant to represent any real people or their characters.

WestBow Press

A Division of Thomas Nelson & Zondervan

1663 Liberty Drive

Bloomington, IN 47403

www.westbowpress.com

844-714-3454

Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.

ISBN: 979-8-3850-1540-5 (sc)

ISBN: 979-8-3850-1541-2 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2023924434

WestBow Press rev. date: 03/01/2024

To my dad,

the great storyteller.

I will miss your wit, wisdom, and winsome smile

until we meet again in heaven.

CONTENTS

1.   The Neighbors

2.   A Wounded Creature

3.   Lessons from an Anti-Prodigal

4.   The Gift

5.   A Puzzling Mystery

THE NEIGHBORS

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O n a quiet street with houses nestled close together, there lived an old gardener with a very unusual tree. It differed from the many other flowering shrubs and plants in his yard because it was a rare mood tree that bloomed year-round. These special trees reflect the nature of their caregivers, whether courageous or fearful, quick-tempered or self-controlled, ambitious or lazy. A selfish woman once resided in the home and while she dwelt there the tree did not sprout at all.

The old gardener had a deep joy in his heart and so the buds of the mood tree opened up into smiles woven from vibrant white blossoms and ribbon-like vines. Whenever a rush of air loosened the spent petals from their boughs, they floated down to twinkle upon the grass like freshly fallen snow. The earth beneath was adorned as bountifully as the densely decorated limbs and leaves. Much