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’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.
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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. 
 
Share this with everyone you consider a FRIEND…and I’ll bet this will be a message they do remember…
every time they pick up a fork!  

Remember each day… KEEP YOUR FORK!   The BEST is yet to come!

 

In honor of Sam Rosenwald, who lived a ‘take your fork” kind of life.