The carpenter I hired to help me restore an old piece of furniture had just finished a rough first day on the job.

A flat tire made him lose an hour of work, his electric saw quit, and his now ancient one-ton pick-up truck refused to start.

I offered to drive him home, and he accepted. The whole time we drove, he sat in stony silence. 

When we reached his home, he invited me in to come in and meet his family.  As we walked toward the front door, he paused briefly at a small tree in the yard, touching the tips of the branches with both hands.

As he opened the door, his demeanor underwent an amazing transformation. His tanned and weary face was beaming with smiles as he hugged his two small children and gave his wife a kiss.

Afterward, he walked me back to my car, and my curiosity got the best of me. As we passed the tree, 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 is 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.”

- Anonymous

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Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6-7 

Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. 1 Peter 5:7 NIV

Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek His will in all you do, and He will show you which path to take.  Proverbs 3:5-6 NLT

Give your burdens to the Lord, and He will take care of you. He will not permit the godly to slip and fall.  Psalm 55:22

Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.”  Matthew 11:28-30 NLT

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If you liked this story and would like a copy of either of my books,
they are available on Amazon in both paperback and Kindle format:

If you have a story or testimony that you think might bless others,
I invite you to send it by email to me (Kenneth Kersey) at godsotherways@me.com.

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