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 minister 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 minister 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 minister's reply.
> > >>
> > >> "This is very important," ! the young woman continued. "I
> > >>want to
> > >> be buried
> > >> with a fork in my right hand."
> > >>
> > >> The minister 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
> > >> minister.
> > >>
> > >> 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 minister'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 minister heard the question "What's ! with the
> > >>fork?"
> > >>
> > >> And over and over he smiled.
> > >>
> > >> During his message, the minister 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.
> > >> They lend
> > >> an ear, they share a word of praise, and they always want to
> > >>open
> > >> their
> > >> hearts to us. Show your 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... being friends with
> > >> someone is not
> > >> an opportunity but a sweet responsibility.
> > >>
> > >> > > Oh how true!!!!Joanne
> > >>
> > >>
> > >> ---
> > >>terminal
> > >> illness and
> > >> had been given three months to live. So as she was getting
> > >>her
> > >> things "in
> > >> order," she contacted her minister 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 minister 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 minister's reply.
> > >>
> > >> "This is very important," ! the young woman continued. "I
> > >>want to
> > >> be buried
> > >> with a fork in my right hand."
> > >>
> > >> The minister 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
> > >> minister.
> > >>
> > >> 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 minister'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 minister heard the question "What's ! with the
> > >>fork?"
> > >>
> > >> And over and over he smiled.
> > >>
> > >> During his message, the minister 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.
> > >> They lend
> > >> an ear, they share a word of praise, and they always want to
> > >>open
> > >> their
> > >> hearts to us. Show your 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... being friends with
> > >> someone is not
> > >> an opportunity but a sweet responsibility.
> > >>
> > >> > > Oh how true!!!!Joanne
> > >>
> > >>
> > >> ---
