I recently hired an old carpenter to help me restore an old farm house I had just bought.  He seemed like a nice enough fellow and we got on pretty well.  We had just finished a rough first day on the job and were both pretty exhausted and in need of some well earned rest.

I felt pretty bad as the old guy had missed an hour of paid work earlier that morning caused through a flat tire on his way over to meet me; then his electric saw quit on him causing him more work than he needed and now, it seemed like his ancient pick-up truck wouldn't start no matter how hard both he and I tried to bring it back to life.

In the end I offered him a lift home in my car which he reluctantly agreed to.  Not wishing to put me out of my way.  As I drove him home, he sat in the car with me without uttering a single word.  When we finally arrived at his home he politely invited me in to meet all his family which I was more than happy to do.

As we approached the front of his house, he paused briefly at a small tree, touching the tips of the branches gently with both of his hands.  Then, as he opened the door before us, underwent an amazing transformation. His tanned face was wreathed in smiles; he hugged his two small children and gave his wife a loving and heartfelt kiss.

A little while later he walked me back out to my car. We passed by the same tree again and as we did so; and I took the opportunity then to asked him why he did what I had seen him do earlier with its branches and leaves.

"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, 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 just pick them up again in the morning as I head back out to work."

"Funny thing, though," he smiled, "When I come out in the morning to pick them back up, there never seemed to be quite as many as I remember leaving there the night before."

Humbled by his honesty and sense of caring for his family, I decided right there and then to go out and find myself one of those old worry and trouble trees.  I hope if you're reading this right now you might just do the same for your own family.

Brightest Blessings!