"Live as though Christ died yesterday, rose from the grave today, and is coming back tomorrow."
Theodore Epp


Woman  and a 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 favourite
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. 
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. 

And just remember...keep your fork!  
The BEST is yet to come! 

Author unknown.