K e e p   Y o u r   F o r k

There was a 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.  The 
woman also requested to be buried with her favorite Bible.

Everything was in order and the pastor was preparing to leave when the 
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 woman continued..."I want to be buried with 
a fork in my right hand."  The pastor stood looking at the woman, not 
knowing quite what to say... 

"That surprises you, doesn't  it?" the woman asked.  "Well, to be honest, 
I'm puzzled by the request," said the pastor.  The woman explained.  
"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 woman goodbye.
He knew this would be one of the last times he would see her before her 
death. But he also knew that the woman had a better grasp of heaven than 
he did.  She KNEW that something better was coming.

At the funeral people were walking by the woman's casket and they saw 
the pretty dress she was wearing and her favorite Bible 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 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 oh so gently, that the best is yet to come... 

May God Bless you and keep you safe!