>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 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 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,
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.
>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.
>And keep your fork!