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The Trouble Tree
I hired a plumber to help restore an old farmhouse and the day he started our job he found out some of the pipe for the job had been stolen from his shop and one of his employees didn’t show up for work. What’s more, his drill quit working and his truck wouldn’t start when he was ready to head home.
    As I gave him a lift home, he sat in stony silence. On arrival, he invited me to come in and meet his family. As we walked towards the front door, he paused briefly at a small tree, touching the tips of the branches with both hands.
    As he opened the door to the house, he underwent an amazing transformation. His face was one big smile as he hugged his two small children and gave his wife a hug.
    As he walked me back to my car, we passed the tree and my curiousity got the best of me. I asked about what I had seen him do earlier.
    “Oh, that’s my trouble tree,” he said. “I know I can’t help having troubles on the job but those troubles don’t belong in the house with my wife and kids. 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, when I pick them up in the morning there aren’t nearly as many as I remember hanging up the night before.” Author unknown


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2022 - Volume #46, Issue #3