The
Trouble Tree
The
carpenter I hired to help
me restore an old farmhouse
had just finished a rough
first day on the job. A flat
tire made him lose an hour
of work, his electric saw
quit and now his ancient pickup
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
for sure, 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. 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 ain't
nearly as many as I remember
hanging up the night before."
Author
unknown from A 4th Course
of Chicken Soup for the Soul
Copyright 1997 by Jack Canfield,
Mark Victor Hansen, Hanoch
McCarty & Meladee McCarty
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