THE FORK

I love reading good articles, parrables, simple stuff - simply because I love to think simple, I hate things associated with imagination, something behind something, etc.. etc.. That probably answers why I don't like movies such as 'The Lord of The Rings", "Harry Potter", I can't understand what it's all about really.

Living in today's world, people expect you to be 'smart'. To be honest, sometimes it scares me to think that whatever 'clever people' say, there must be more to it than just the saying. What is said can be so manipulative. Maybe I shouldn't start judging others here. But it's a great reminder for us not to be so manipulative in our thinking, our saying. Say what needs to be said, black is 'black', white is 'white'. Because if it's 'green' and 'yellow', they turn out 'orange'!

Anyway, what I just talked about has no relation whatsoever to the following article you are about to read (if you haven't finished so). I sent to quite a few of people through e-mail yesterday, it's so good and encouraging that I'd like to leave it in my blog so it won't get lost and some other people can still read it.

Read on.... 'THE 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 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, 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 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.


Oh, maybe there's some relation afterall, how can this very simple limited mind of mine possibly understand the goodness and the marvelous Kingdom of God in Heaven? That little illustration above helps me to see that "yes, the best is yet to come"; and "yes, I'm looking forward to stepping into the ETERNITY with GOD".

Think simple, because this world is already too complicated, sometimes it confuses me!