Here is a post I received on Facebook recently and it has a message we should all hear as we go through our day-to-day-living.

I hired a plumber to help me restore an old farmhouse.  He had a rough first day on the job, which included a flat tire that made him lose an hour of work, his electric drill quitting in the middle of the day and his ancient one-ton truck not starting when it was time to head home.

Of course, I drove him home and he sat in stony silence. On arriving home, he invited me in to meet his family. As we walked toward the door, he paused briefly at a small tree, touching the tips of the branches with both hands.

When he opened the door, he underwent an amazing transformation. His face was wreathed in smiles as he hugged his two small children and gave his wife a kiss.

Afterward he walked me to the car. We passed the small 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 in my job, but one thing is for sure.  Those troubles don’t belong in that house with my wife and my children. So, I just hang them on the tree before I come in the house every night and ask God to take care of them. Then in the morning, I pick them up again. Funny thing is when I come to pick them up in the morning, there aren’t nearly as many as I remember hanging up the night before,” he told me smiling.

This message reminded me that life may not always be the party we had hoped for, but while we are here, we may as well dance and don’t spend every waking moment fretting.

We all need a trouble tree. Wait!  We have ONE and it is our Heavenly Father!  In Psalm 34:19 we read these words: Many are the afflictions of the righteous but the Lord delivers him out of them all.

How blessed are we that we have the unconditional love of God that provides for us in our lives, every day in every way.  Pray for His help and be willing to listen and follow His guidance. He is the greatest gift we have. Thanks be to God.

Patty