There once was a little fire hydrant named Art. He was painted a bright yellow, trimmed with a sky blue. He sat at the edge of a lovely dandelion-spotted lawn, with a great view of everything that happened on the street. 

But Art wasn’t happy. You see, he sat right next to a beautiful, tall oak tree. The oak tree was quite popular on that street. Squirrels scampered on it’s branches and treasured it’s nuts. Birds made nests on it’s leafy limbs. Even humans loved it. On warm summer days, they picnicked in it’s shade. 

“How I wish I was a tree.” Art would often sigh, staring up at the oak. “You stand tall and strong. Everyone loves you. You are very useful.”

The oak would just sway it’s branches and say “Art, you are very important too. You don’t need to be like me.”

But Art didn’t believe that. “I’m not important. I’m only an obstacle for the lady who cuts the lawn, and a place for dogs to pee.” 

“You have a purpose. Just wait and see.” The tree said. 

Art pined away the days. Summer turned to fall, and fall changed to winter. Finally, winter melted into spring. Still, Art, the little fire hydrant stood there. There were terrible storms that spring. Thunder boomed. Wind crashed through, shaking the oak, and snapping many of its branches. Lightning slashed through the sky. Art huddled on the ground. 

Suddenly, he noticed a burst of sparks! 

Flames crackled through the oak’s branches. 

“Oh no! Are you okay!” 

The tree only moaned 

Sirens started screaming.

Heat radiated off the burning oak. 
Big red trucks screeched to a stop in front of it.

“What’s going on!” Art yelled.

People in thick suits climbed out of the trucks. They ran straight to him. Then they attached a huge hose to him! 

“Hey!” 

Suddenly, water gushed into the hose! Art started to pull water out of underground pipes and pump it into the hose! He smiled as he felt the water surging through him. This was what he was made for!

The people in thick suits shot the water at the oak. Slowly, the flames disappeared. The tree sighed. It’s branches were scorched, but other than that, it was fine. 

“Thanks for helping me, Art!” It sighed. 

Art smiled. “No problem.” 

Just then, a thought struck him. “Hey! I do have a purpose! You were right!” 

The tree smiled faintly. “That I was.” 

And from then on, Art wasn’t unhappy any more. 

The Bible says “For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.” Ephesians 2:10

And 

“Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex! Your workmanship is marvelous—how well I know it.” Psalms 139:14

We are all special to God. He has amazing things planned for us. We don’t need to get jealous of others, or wish to be like them. We can seek God for His special plan in our lives. 

That is what the Scriptures mean when they say, “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love him.”

But it was to us that God revealed these things by his Spirit. For his Spirit searches out everything and shows us God’s deep secrets.

1 Corinthians 2:10