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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.
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 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 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."
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