KEEP YOUR FORK
Got this from a friend and thought you might enjoy it.
There was a young woman who'd been diagnosed with a terminal illness & was given 3 months to live. So, as she was getting her things 'in order', she contacted her Pastor to have him come to her house to discuss her final wishes.
She told him which songs she wanted sung at the service, what scriptures she wanted read, & 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….
"There's one more thing,..." she said excitedly.
"What's that?" the Pastor asked.
"This is very important," the young woman continued. "I want to be buried with a fork in my right hand."
She told him which songs she wanted sung at the service, what scriptures she wanted read, & 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….
"There's one more thing,..." she said excitedly.
"What's that?" the Pastor asked.
"This is very important," the young woman continued. "I want to be buried with a fork in my right hand."
h/t MK
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," replied the Pastor.
The young woman explained. "My grandmother once told me a story, and from that time on I've always tried to pass along its message to those I love & those in need of encouragement. In all my years of attending socials & dinners, I always remember that when the dishes of the main course are being cleared, someone would inevitably lean over & say, "Keep your fork." It was my favorite part because I knew 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 my casket with a fork in my hand, & 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 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 & knowledge! She KNEW something better was coming!
At the funeral, people walked by the young woman's casket, & they saw the fork in her right hand..... Over & over, the Pastor heard the question, "What's with the fork?" And, over & over he smiled.
During his message, the Pastor told the people of the conversation he'd had with the young woman shortly before she died, & told them about the fork & what it symbolized to her. He told them he couldn't stop thinking about the fork & said that they probably wouldn't be able to stop thinking about it either. He was right.
So, next time you reach down for your fork, let it remind you, ever so gently, that the best is yet to come.Send this to everyone you consider a Friend... I bet this'll be an email they do remember, every time they pick up a fork.
Friends are a very rare jewel. They make you smile & encourage you to succeed - cherish the time you have, & the memories you share....Being friends with someone isn't an opportunity, but a sweet responsibility.
And Remember... Keep your Fork!
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