vip-ip
Account Closed
- Impact
- 24
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
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 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
pretty dress 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.
The pastor 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 keep your fork.
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
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 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
pretty dress 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.
The pastor 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 keep your fork.
