[Mb-hair] Small Tree

[Gerald Gerald]

THE SMALL TREE


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 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, 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."