“Peace is my farewell to you, my peace is my gift to you; I do not give it to you as the world gives peace. Do not be distressed or fearful.” John 14:27
One rainy Monday morning, a plumber was on his way to work when his truck got a flat tire. After finally fixing it, his electric tube cutter broke. Nine hours later, after a long day of one thing going wrong after another, his truck refused to start.
His friend came to pick him up to take him home. Filling the friend in on his day, the plumber’s agitation grew, his breathing increased, his face grew tense and red. Once he arrived home, he invited his friend in for dinner to thank him. As they walked toward the front door, the plumber paused at a small tree, touching the tips of the branches with both hands. His friend noticed his face softening, calming. When he opened the door to his house, he continued with this transformation. He smiled and hugged his children and kissed his wife.
After dinner, the man walked his friend back out to his car. When they passed the tree, his friend asked, “What was the deal with you touching the tree before you went inside?”
The plumber looked at the tree. “Oh, that’s my trouble tree. I know I can’t help having troubles on the job –in my life, but one thing I know for sure is troubles don’t belong in the house with my wife and kids. So, I just hang them up on the tree every night when I come home.”
His friend smiled. “That’s why you looked so different the minute you got inside.”
The other man nodded. “And the funny thing is, when I come out the next morning, there aren’t nearly as many troubles as I thought I left there the night before.”
Do you have a “trouble tree” of sorts? Are you able to let go of your problems, frustrations, limitations, or do you choose to carry them around throughout your entire day and night?
Maybe it’s time to release some of those problems. Perhaps setting them down won’t fix them, but it might lighten your burden.
Easter time is the right time to remind yourself of the One who died for you on a tree and rose to new life. It’s the perfect time to remember Jesus is there for you, waiting for you to lay your problems at the foot of His cross and join in celebrating the resurrection.
Watering the Seeds
How do you physically change when you are carrying too many problems and worries throughout your day?
How has your faith helped you leave your troubles at the foot of the cross?
