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."