The Trouble Tree
I hired a plumber to help me restore an old farmhouse, and after he had just
finished a rough first day on the job, a flat tire made him lose an hour of
work & his electric drill quit, his ancient one ton truck refused to start.
As I drove him home, he sat in stony silence.
On
arriving he invited me in to meet his family. As we walked toward the front
door, he paused briefly at a small tree, touching the tips of the branches with
both hands. Upon opening the door he had undergone an amazing transformation.
His tanned face was wreathed in smiles and he hugged his two small children and
gave his wife a kiss.
Afterward
he walked me to the car. We passed the tree and my curiosity got the better of
me. I asked him about what I had seen him do at the little tree.
"Oh,
that's my trouble tree," he replied. "I know I can't help having
troubles on the job, but one thing's for sure, those troubles don't belong in
the house with my wife and the children. So I just hang them up on the tree
every night when I come home and ask God to take care of them. Then in the
morning I pick them up again." Funny thing is," he smiled, "when
I come out in the morning to pick them up, there aren't nearly as many as I
remember hanging up the night before."
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