Wow Sherri What a great post, many thanks, big smiles from a cross the Pond.
----- Original Message ----- From: "Sherri Crum" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Friday, September 26, 2008 3:09 PM Subject: [RecipesAndMore] Keep Your Fork > > 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. > > > --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ Access the Recipes And More list archives at: http://www.mail-archive.com/recipesandmore%40googlegroups.com/ Visit the group home page at: http://groups.google.com/group/RecipesAndMore -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
