(no subject)
Subject: Keep your fork.
There was a young woman who had been diagnosed with
a terminal illness and had been given three months to
live. So as she was getting her things "in order," she
contacted her Pastor and had him come to her house to
discuss certain aspects of her final wishes.
She told him which songs she wanted sung at the service,
what scriptures she would like read, and what outfit she
wanted to be buried in.
Everything was in order and the Pastor was preparing to
leave when the young woman suddenly remembered something
very important to her.
"There's one more thing," she said excitedly.
"What's that?" came the Pastor's reply.
"This is very important," the young woman continued. "I
want to be buried with a fork in my right hand."
The Pastor stood looking at the young woman, not knowing
quite what to say.
That surprises you, doesn't it?" the young woman asked.
"Well, to be honest, I'm puzzled by the request," said the
Pastor.
The young woman explained "My grandmother once told me this
story, and from that time on I have always tried to pass
along its message to those I love and those who are in need
of encouragement. In all my years of attending socials and
dinners, I always remember that when the dishes of the main
course were being cleared, someone would
inevitably lean over and say, 'Keep your fork.' It was my
favorite part because I knew that something better was
coming...like velvety chocolate cake or deep-dish apple
pie. Something wonderful, and with substance!'
So, I just want people to see me there in that casket with
a fork in my hand and I want them to wonder "What's with
the fork?" Then I want you to tell them: "Keep your fork,
the best is yet to come."
The Pastor's eyes welled up with tears of joy as he hugged
the young woman good-bye. He knew this would be one of the
last times he would see her before her death. But he also
knew that the young woman had a better grasp of heaven than
he did. She had a better grasp of what heaven would be like
than many people twice her age, with twice as much
experience and knowledge. She KNEW that something better
was coming.
At the funeral people were walking by the young woman's
casket and they saw the cloak she was wearing and the fork
placed in her right hand. Over and over, the Pastor heard
the question, "What's with the fork?" And over and over he
smiled.
During his message, the Pastor told the people of the
conversation he had with the young woman shortly before she
died He also told them about the fork and about what it
symbolized to her. He told the people how he could
not stop thinking about the fork and told them that they
probably would not be able to stop thinking about it
either.
He was right. So the next time you reach down for your fork
let it remind you, ever so gently, that the best is yet to
come. Friends are a very rare jewel indeed. They make you
smile and encourage you to succeed. They lend an ear, they
share a word of praise, and they always want to open their
hearts to us.
Show your friends how much you care. Remember to always be
there for them, even when you need them more. For you never
know when it may be their time to "Keep their fork."
Cherish the time you have, and the memories you share ...
being friends with someone is not an opportunity but a
sweet responsibility.
And most of all keep your fork.
There was a young woman who had been diagnosed with
a terminal illness and had been given three months to
live. So as she was getting her things "in order," she
contacted her Pastor and had him come to her house to
discuss certain aspects of her final wishes.
She told him which songs she wanted sung at the service,
what scriptures she would like read, and what outfit she
wanted to be buried in.
Everything was in order and the Pastor was preparing to
leave when the young woman suddenly remembered something
very important to her.
"There's one more thing," she said excitedly.
"What's that?" came the Pastor's reply.
"This is very important," the young woman continued. "I
want to be buried with a fork in my right hand."
The Pastor stood looking at the young woman, not knowing
quite what to say.
That surprises you, doesn't it?" the young woman asked.
"Well, to be honest, I'm puzzled by the request," said the
Pastor.
The young woman explained "My grandmother once told me this
story, and from that time on I have always tried to pass
along its message to those I love and those who are in need
of encouragement. In all my years of attending socials and
dinners, I always remember that when the dishes of the main
course were being cleared, someone would
inevitably lean over and say, 'Keep your fork.' It was my
favorite part because I knew that something better was
coming...like velvety chocolate cake or deep-dish apple
pie. Something wonderful, and with substance!'
So, I just want people to see me there in that casket with
a fork in my hand and I want them to wonder "What's with
the fork?" Then I want you to tell them: "Keep your fork,
the best is yet to come."
The Pastor's eyes welled up with tears of joy as he hugged
the young woman good-bye. He knew this would be one of the
last times he would see her before her death. But he also
knew that the young woman had a better grasp of heaven than
he did. She had a better grasp of what heaven would be like
than many people twice her age, with twice as much
experience and knowledge. She KNEW that something better
was coming.
At the funeral people were walking by the young woman's
casket and they saw the cloak she was wearing and the fork
placed in her right hand. Over and over, the Pastor heard
the question, "What's with the fork?" And over and over he
smiled.
During his message, the Pastor told the people of the
conversation he had with the young woman shortly before she
died He also told them about the fork and about what it
symbolized to her. He told the people how he could
not stop thinking about the fork and told them that they
probably would not be able to stop thinking about it
either.
He was right. So the next time you reach down for your fork
let it remind you, ever so gently, that the best is yet to
come. Friends are a very rare jewel indeed. They make you
smile and encourage you to succeed. They lend an ear, they
share a word of praise, and they always want to open their
hearts to us.
Show your friends how much you care. Remember to always be
there for them, even when you need them more. For you never
know when it may be their time to "Keep their fork."
Cherish the time you have, and the memories you share ...
being friends with someone is not an opportunity but a
sweet responsibility.
And most of all keep your fork.