The Fork
"FORK"
This woman was 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 h! eaven 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 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. 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 your
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
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