A Facebook Post by Russ Sites
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.
Life
may not be the party we hoped for, but while we are here we might as well
dance. We all need a Trouble Tree!
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Mr. Sites was indeed correct. What an inspirational word for all of us from our Heavenly Father. When we leave our troubles, our burdens, with the Lord, He takes care of them for us.
Very often we attempt to retrieve those troubles once we've laid them at his feet. In so doing, we insult the Lord. We must learn to walk past our Trouble Tree each new day and allow the Lord to hold on to those problems. Only in so doing can we hope to find lasting peace.
When we leave our troubles with the Lord, He cleanses our hearts of those worries. In due season, the worries exist no more. Then, when the new seasons of our life begin, hope springs eternal with new growth awaiting the privilege of collecting our troubles and again taking them to the Lord.
The circle of life....leave it and never try to retrieve it for He will remove it when we allow Him to do so.
3 comments:
Cast your cares upon Him...AND leave them there! That is a lesson that came hard for me...I have learned that He alone gives peace and joy when troubles come. I love you Di!
Trish, I have no trouble whatsoever taking my troubles to the Lord it is the LEAVING them there that causes me the angst as well. Like you, that lesson has been a long-fought battle and continues to be ongoing now. I wish I could say my first response is to take my cares to the Lord and LEAVE them, but unfortunately, I too often try to pick them up and bring them back with me. I am learning though.......I am stubborn but once I get it, I am just as stubborn about doing it right! I am so thankful God loves me in spite of my shortcomings! I love you too, dear Trish!
Beautiful story! And what a blessing it is to have a man come home to his waiting family unburdened by care and worry. I appreciated reading this today, Diane.
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