We all need a tree

I read this story (below the tree picture) on another blog and loved it. I wanted to share it with you. Sometimes I get caught up with my "troubles", which are very, very small troubles compared to what others are going through. My having a bad day is nothing compared to parents losing a child, someone losing their job with the economy being so scary, or being diagnosed with a fatal illness or disease etc... all things I actually know people that are going through right now. I don't have a tree outside my house as of yet, but am going to put something to remind me of this somewhere, in my car maybe, or before I go into the house from the garage, a mini tree, or even a leaf of some sort?

I hired a plumber to help me restore an old farmhouse, and after he had just finished a rough first day on the job: a flat tire made him lose an hour of work, his electric drill quit and his ancient one ton 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 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, those 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 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 'em up, there aren't nearly as many as I remember hanging up the night before.