The carpenter I hired to help me restore an old farm house
had just finished. A flat tire had caused him to miss an
hour of work, his electric saw quit and now his ancient
pickup truck refused to start.As I drove him home, he sat
in stony silence.
When we arrived he invited me in to meet his family.
As we walked to 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, he hugged his two small children and gave his wife
a kiss.
Afterward he walked me to the car.
We passed by 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 troubles tree" he replied. "I know I can't
help having troubles on the job, but one thing's for sure,
they don't belong in the house with my wife and children.
So, I just hang them on the tree when I come home in the
evening and then I pick them up again in the morning."
"Funny thing though," he smiled, "when I come out in the
morning to pick 'em up, there ain't nearly as
many as I remembered hanging there the night before."
author unknown
