In the "New Covenant" made by our Creator God with humanity, as reported in Jeremiah 31:31-34, every human being can know God from within - because the Holy Spirit is revealing our Creator to all who are willing to know the Lord and trust in Him. We can still help each other along the way; so may you be pleased to find here a variety of helps to the life of faith in God through Jesus Christ. G.S.
----------------------------------------------------------------
Keep Your 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' 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 main course dishes 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 their 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. That’s why you are
getting this message. "And keep
your fork!!!!"
In the "New Covenant" made by our Creator God with humanity, as reported in Jeremiah 31:31-34, every human being can know God from within - because the Holy Spirit is revealing our Creator to all who are willing to know the Lord and trust in Him. We can still help each other along the way; so may you be pleased to find here a variety of helps to the life of faith in God through Jesus Christ. G.S.
© 2006-2021 All rights reserved Fr. Gilles Surprenant, Associate Priest of Madonna House Apostolate & Poustinik, Montreal QC
© 2006-2021 Tous droits réservés Abbé Gilles Surprenant, Prêtre Associé de Madonna House Apostolate & Poustinik, Montréal QC
+ + + + + + + + + + + +
No comments:
Post a Comment