The Roots and The Tree Top : An Analogy

The Tree



The Roots and The Tree



Once upon a time there was a huge tree.  For years, it had been providing shade for passers-by to either shelter from the burning afternoon sun or from the slight shower.  The tree had also been a favourite spot for families and couples to set their picnic baskets and have a lazy day, enjoying the cool shade.



One day, the leaves suggested to the tree that they should finally bear fruits that could be enjoyed by the people who frequent their shade.  The tree agreed and did all it could to do just that.  It asked the branches to help but they said that they couldn't because it did not have the expertise.  The tree then asked the bark to which it too gave the same response.  After getting negatives responses from every single one of its members, the tree finally remembered the roots!

The roots, which were always hidden underground and were so used to being trodden upon by the people who frequented the tree, was indeed happy and proud that the tree had finally remembered to ask them and promised to do everything within their means to extract as much nutrients from the soil so that the tree could be fertilized and the branches could produce delicious fruits! 



After all the hard work put in by the roots, the tree finally had all its brances heavily laden with juicy plump fruits.  People began to stop under the tree and started to pluck and devour the sweet, delicious fruits.  The people could not stop praising the tree for bearing such succulent fruits;  they praised the leaves for protecting the fruits from being eaten by birds or insects; they even praised the branches for being strong enough to hold on to the heavy fruits. 

The only part of the tree that did not get any kind of praise were the roots that had worked hard to provide nutrients to the tree, which in turn, enabled the tree to produce fruits.  In spite of this lack of gratitude, the roots continued to serve the tree even though they were not appreciated by the tree; even though the people who frequented the tree continued to step on the roots!

We wonder what would happen to the tree, the leaves, the brances, the bark and the twigs if the roots had held a grudge for not getting any accolades or even a simple thank you for all its hard work, and as a result of that, decided not to provide the whole tree with nutrients.......