Keep the Fork

                   There was a woman who had been diagnosed with a
                    terminal illness and was given 3 months to live. As she
                    began getting her things "in order", she called her
                    pastor and asked for him to come to her house to discuss
                    certain aspects of her final wishes. She told him which
                    songs she wanted sung at the service, what scripture she
                    wanted read, and what dress she wanted to be buried in.
                    She also requested to be buried with her favorite Bible in
                    her left hand.

                    Everything was in order and as the pastor was preparing to
                    leave, the woman suddenly remembered one final request
                    that was very important to her. "Please Pastor, just one more
                    thing", she said excitedly."Sure, what is it?", came the
                    pastor's reply. "This is very important to me, "the woman
                    continued....."I want to be buried holding a fork in my right
                    hand."

                    The pastor gazed at the woman, with a loss for words. "That
                    surprises you, doesn't it?" the woman asked. The pastor
                    replied "Well to be quite honest, I'm puzzled by the request".

                    The woman explained. "You see, Pastor, in all my years of
                    attending church socials and potluck dinners, I remember
                    that when the dishes were being cleared after the main
                    course, someone would inevitably lean over to me and say,
                    'Keep your Fork'. It was my favorite part because I knew
                    that something better was coming, like chocolate cake or
                    deep dish apple pie. Something wonderful, and with
                    substance to end the great meal".

                    The pastor listened intently and a smile came upon his face.
                    The woman continued, "So, I just want people to see me
                    there in the 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 that this would be one of the
                    last times that he would see her before her death. But he also
                    knew that the woman had a better grasp of Heaven then he
                    did. She KNEW and trusted that the best was yet to come.

                    At the funeral, everyone that walked by the woman's casket
                    saw her wearing a beautiful dress with her favorite Bible
                    held in her left hand and a fork held in her right hand. Over
                    and over the pastor heard people ask the question, "Why is
                    she holding a fork?" and his smile began to get larger and
                    brighter each time.

                    During his message, the pastor told the people about the
                    conversation that he had with the woman shortly before she
                    died. He explained the fork and what it symbolized to her.
                    The Pastor told everyone how he could not stop thinking
                    about the fork and how he hoped that they would not be able
                    to stop thinking about it either. That fork and the meaning of
                    it to the woman had quite the impact on everyone and they
                    are still sharing the story with people they meet.

                    And now it has been shared with you......so the next time you
                    reach for your fork, let it remind you, oh so gently, that the
                    best is yet to come...

                                                ~~Author Unknown~~

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