Hi,
Hello again to you all, and a special welcome to all you new members!
First of all, I’d like to wish all of you who celebrate Thanksgiving
a very Happy and safe one. It’s pretty busy around here. By 9AM, I had already pulled a pumpkin pie out of the oven
to make room for the goose that my son and his wife are bringing. Should be a really fun day – we decided to cook together
– still have to go up to the garden and pull beets and greens (a family favorite) and finish the cranberry relish. I
do so love these days when families can get together – one of the big things I am thankful for on this day.
Still, even with all the fun things there are to do at this time of year, there’s
bound to be a little extra stress as well, so I thought I’d share a story that came to me in an email. It’s called
The Trouble 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."
May you find yourself a trouble tree and have a great holiday season!
About the archives – most are now up on my website. Should be able to
finish it this weekend 8>}
