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."