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 eye 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 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.
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 eye 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 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.
