Focus Scripture – Matthew 6:25-34
Reflections on Today’s Scripture
While taking a class in Pastoral Care, one of my classmates shared this story. He told me it would be all right if I shared it with others for the good of the order. Thanks, Elbert!
“The Trouble Tree”
The carpenter who was hired to help a man restore an old farmhouse had just finished his first day on the job, and everything that could possibly go wrong went wrong. First of all, on his way to work, he had a flat tire that cost him an hour’s worth of pay. Then his electric saw broke, and after work, his old pickup truck refused to start.
His new boss volunteered to give him a lift home, and the whole way to his house the carpenter sat in stone silence as he stared out his window. Yet on arriving, he invited his boss in for a few minutes to meet his family. As they walked toward the front 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 tanned face was one big smile as he hugged his two small children and kissed his wife.
Afterward, the man walked his boss to his car to say thank you. Now on their way out of the house, the boss’s curiosity got the best of him. So, he had to ask the man about the tree on the front porch.
He said, “I noticed when you came up onto the porch before going into your house you stopped and touched the tree, why?”
“Oh, that’s my trouble tree,” the man replied. “I know I can’t stop from having troubles out on the job, but one thing’s for sure – my troubles don’t belong in the house with my wife and children. So I just hang them up on the tree every night when I come home. 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, they aren’t nearly as many as I remember hanging up the night before.”
Prayer Response
Awesome God, thank you for reminding us that there is no need to worry. You’ve got this! Amen.