The Trouble Tree

[John Harrelson]

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 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,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."

unknown


JOHN “the cook”
May98

["007"]

Thanks John, just goes to show what family really means to us all.

[bsavage]

LOVE that!

Brenda, of...

[CaptChet]

Back in my 'other life', while still working, i had a folder in my desk drawer and at the end of the day, I would open that folder on my desk and clean my desk off, putting everything into the desk drawer each night, leaving "The Office, in the office"!!!!
Worked for me!
I didn't have a tree in my front yard!
God Bless ya'all!