Keep Your Fork

Faith Filled Thoughts
October 15th, 2008
By Connie Ciccone
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Keep Your Fork

Scripture: Ecclesiastes 3:12 (Living Bible) "There is nothing better for a man than to be happy and to enjoy himself as long as he can.

"Life on this earth is as a vapor, and compared to eternity it is as a moment in a day. James 4:14 tells us that our life "appears for a while, then it vanishes." Not only is the span of life that we are given very short, it is also divided into many unpredictable seasons. Some of them are joyful and some are sad. Solomon said there are seasons to laugh and seasons to cry. There are times to love, to hate, to build, to tear down, to have peace, and to be at war. He lists many other seasons that we will encounter in our lifetime, but he says, "God makes everything beautiful in His time."

For so long, we have murmured and complained and taken so many things for granted. We are often dissatisfied, for we see our glass as half-empty instead of half-full. It is only when we encounter sickness that we begin to appreciate health. Or when we come face to face with death that we see life as a gift, and our every breath becomes precious to us. We give little thought to our vision and mobility until we see a close friend suddenly lose their eyesight or become paralyzed due to injury. We never think of the blessing of hearing until our hearing is gone. Our voice and ability to communicate is considered mundane until we are unable to speak or sing. And it is only when a loved one is stricken with a fatal disease that we come to the realization that we should cherish our loved ones and thankfully hold on to each moment that we have together and spend it very carefully.

My Hopes that this story given to me by a Faithful reader will inspire you and teach you how life is funny and precious…

A 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.

SO SMILE MY FRIEND I LOVE YOU AND REMEMBER…..
Keep Your Fork

May He Bless You and Keep You Today!

With Great Love
IN HIS SERVICE
Connie