Romans16:16 "Greet one another with a holy kiss. All the churches of Christ send greetings." |
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Remember |
Keep Your Fork There was a young woman who had been diagnosed with a terminal illness and had been given 3 months to live.
So, as she was getting her
things "in order," she contacted her preacher 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 preacher 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 preacher's reply. "This is
very important," the young woman continued. "I want to be buried with a
fork in my right hand."
The preacher 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 preacher.
The young woman explained.
"My grandmother once told me this story and, from there on out, I have
always done so. I have also 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 church socials and potluck 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 preacher'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 pretty dress she
was wearing and the fork placed in her right hand.
Over and over, the preacher
heard the question. "What's with the fork?" And over and over he smiled.
During his message, the
preacher 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.
The preacher 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 your fork."
Cherish the time you have,
and the memories you share ... being friends with someone is not an
opportunity but a sweet responsibility.
Send this to everyone you
consider a FRIEND even if it means sending back to the person who sent
it to you.
And remember to keep your
fork.
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