Keep Your Fork

Keep Your Fork

There was a young sister 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 an elder 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 talk, what
scriptures she would like emphasized, and what outfit she wanted to be
buried in.

Everything was in order and the elder was preparing to leave when our
young sister suddenly remembered something very important to her.
'There's one more thing,' she said excitedly.
'What's that?' came the elder's reply.

'This is very important,' our young sister continued. 'I want to be
buried with a fork in my right hand.'

The elder stood looking at the young woman not knowing quite what to
say.

That surprises you, doesn't it?' our young sister asked.

'Well, to be honest, I'm puzzled by the request,' said the elder.

Our young sister 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 Christian gatherings and friendly
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 elder's eyes welled up with tears of joy as he hugged our young
sister good-bye.

He knew this would be one of the last times he would see her on this
side of this system.

But he also knew that our young sister had a better grasp of 'The New
System' than he did.

She had a better grasp of what paradise 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 our young sister's casket and
they saw the pretty dress she was wearing and the fork placed in her
right hand.

Over and over, the elder heard the question. 'What's with the fork?'
And over and over he smiled.

During his service talk, the elder told the friends of the conversation
he had with our young sister shortly before she died.

He also told them about the fork and about what it symbolized to her.
The elder 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.

The Brotherhood is a very rare jewel, indeed.
The friends make us smile and encourage us to succeed.
They lend an ear, they share a word of praise, and they always want to
open their hearts to us.

Show the 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... showing

Christian love is not an opportunity but a sweet responsibility, and a
Christian obligation.

Send this to the FRIENDS, This illustration just shows us the
importance of keeping 'our eyes on the prize'.

2 Cor. 4:17,18 - 'For though the tribulation is momentary and light, it
works out for us a glory that is of more and more surpassing weight and
is everlasting; while we keep our eyes, not on the things seen, but on
the things unseen. For the things seen are temporary, but the things
unseen are everlasting.'

Just remember to 'keep your fork'.