Hang Up Your Troubles

So let me begin with a question.......have you ever had a bad day at work?

Okay, stupid question......sorry! Of course you have. We all have! But what do you do with that bad day? Do you take it home to your family and nail them to the wall with it? Do you ignore your spouse and kids because you’re self absorbed in the difficult day? Or are you able to handle it like the carpenter in this story?

The carpenter I hired to help me restore an old farm house had just finished a rough first day on the job. A flat tire had caused him to miss an hour of work, his electric saw quit, and now his ancient pick_up truck refused to start.

As I drove him home, he sat in stony silence. When we arrived he invited me in to meet his family. As we walked to 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; he hugged his two small children and gave his wife a kiss.
Afterward he walked me to the car. We passed by 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, they don't belong in the house with my wife and children. So, I just hang them on the tree when I come home in the evening and then I just pick them up again in the morning."

"Funny thing, though," he smiled, "when I come out in the morning to pick 'em up, there ain't nearly as many as I remembered hanging there the night before."

What a great point! I read that story years ago, but haven’t quite mastered it yet. The fact remains, the troubles of your day should never be taken out on those you love the most. Here’s what the Bible says: Whoever brings trouble to his family will be left with nothing but the wind. (Proverbs 11:29)

Don’t find yourself there! Let me encourage you to leave your troubles outside when you come home, and when you get ready to head back the next day, like the carpenter, you’ll find there aren’t nearly as many as you remember putting there the night before.