Trees
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 and his ancient one ton truck
refused to start.
While 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. When opening the door he underwent an amazing
transformation.. His face was wreathed in smiles and he hugged his two
small children and gave his wife 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 earlier.
"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 'em
up, there aren't nearly as many as I remember hanging up the night
before.
just finished a rough first day on the job: a flat tire made him lose an
hour of work, his electric drill quit and his ancient one ton truck
refused to start.
While 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. When opening the door he underwent an amazing
transformation.. His face was wreathed in smiles and he hugged his two
small children and gave his wife 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 earlier.
"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 'em
up, there aren't nearly as many as I remember hanging up the night
before.
