from harold's file . . .
K e e p Y o u r F o r k
There was a 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 hm
which songs she wanted sung at the service, what scriptures she would
like read, and what outfit she wanted to be buried in. The woman also
requested to be buried with her favorite Bible.
Everything was in order and the pastor was preparing to leave when
the 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 woman continued.."I want to be buried
with
a fork in my right hand." Te pastor stood looking at the woman, not
knowing quite what to say.. "That surprises you, doesn't it?" the
woman
asked.
"Well, to be honest, I'm puzzled by the request," said the pastor.
The woman explained. "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 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 woman had a better grasp
of
heaven than he did. She KNEW that something better was coming.
At the funeral people were walking by the woman's casket and they saw
the pretty dress she was wearing and her favorite Bible 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 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 oh so
gently, that the best is yet to come.
May God Bless you and keep you safe!
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