"The Carpenter"

A man hired a carpenter to help him restore an old farmhouse.

The carpenter had a rough first day on the job.

First – a flat tire made him lose an hour of work. 

Then his electric saw quit. 

And at the end of the day – his pickup truck refused to start.

While the man who hired him drove him home – 

the carpenter sat in stony silence. 

On arriving home – 

the carpenter invited the man to come in and meet his family.

As they walked toward the front door – 

the carpenter paused briefly at a small tree – 

touching the tips of the branches with both hands.

Upon opening the door – 

he underwent an amazing transformation.

His tanned face was wreathed in smiles 

as he hugged his two small children and gave his wife a kiss.

After introducing the man to his family – 

the carpenter walked the man to the car.

They passed the tree and the man’s curiosity got the better of him. 

He asked the carpenter about what he had seen him do earlier.

“Oh, that’s my ‘Trouble Tree’,” the carpenter replied. 

“I know I can’t help having troubles on the job – 

but one thing’s for sure – 

my 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. 

Then in the morning I pick them up again.”

Funny thing is,” he smiled, 

“when I come out in the morning to pick them up, 

there aren’t nearly as many as I remember hanging up the night before.”