Woman and a 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. 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... and
I'll bet this will be an Email they do remember, every time they pick up a fork!
And just remember ... keep your fork!
The BEST is yet to come!