My Trouble Tree

My Trouble Tree “Come to me, all you are wary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Matthew 11:28 Early on in my career I read a story that helped me deal with my pressure at the office and keep it from affecting my family. It was a story about a plumber who was hired to help a man restore an old farmhouse. The plumber needed the money desperately to provide for his family. When the plumber arrived at the farmhouse the first day, he noticed his tire was flat, which made him lose an hour of work, his electric drill quit working, the parts he had purchased were the wrong size, and when he started home his ancient one ton truck refused to start. The homeowner had to drive him home, and the plumber sat in total silence during the trip as he had a terrible day and had earned very little money. On arriving, he invited the homeowner in to meet his family. As they walked towards 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 face was wreathed in smiles and he hugged his two small children and gave his wife a kiss. Later he walked the homeowner out to his car and as they passed the small tree the homeowner asked him why he had rubbed the tree. “Oh, that’s my trouble tree, 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 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.” We all need a trouble tree to hang our troubles on, and that tree is God. He will handle our troubles for us, and share our burdens when we ask. Robert W. Brock My Daily Devotional Volume Seven January 11