An elderly carpenter was
ready to retire. He told his employer-contractor
of his plans to leave
the house-building business and live a more leisurely
life with his wife enjoying
his extended family. He would miss the
paycheck, but he needed
to retire. They could get by.
The contractor was sorry
to see his good worker go and asked if he could
build just one more house
as a personal favor.
The carpenter said yes,
but in time it was easy to see that his heart was not
in his work. He
resorted to shoddy workmanship and used inferior materials.
It was an unfortunate
way to end a dedicated career.
When the carpenter finished
his work the employer came to inspect the
house. He handed
the front-door key to the carpenter. "This is your
house," he said, "my gift
to you." The carpenter was shocked! What a
shame! If he had
only known he was building his own house, he would have
done it all so differently.
So it is with us.
We build our lives, a day at a time, often putting less
than our best into the
building. Then with a shock we realize we have to
live in the house we have
built. If we could do it over, we'd do it much
differently. But
we cannot go back. You are the carpenter. Each day you
hammer a nail, place a
board, or erect a wall. "Life is a do-it-yourself
project," someone has
said.
Your attitudes and the
choices you make today, build the "house" you
live in tomorrow. Build
wisely!
Remember...
Work like you don't need
the money.
Love like you've never
been hurt.
Dance like nobody is watching.