A Husband's Love

An old couple was married for 50 years and their children and friends decide to have a celebration for their Golden Anniversary. During that night they had a big party with many friends and relatives.

After the party, they were both glad and happy to return to their quiet home. During the party, they were both busy with the many guest and both did not have a good dinner. So they decide to have some supper before retiring.

They went to the kitchen for some coffee, bread and butter. The man took the new loaf of bread, opened it and promptly gave his wife the heel of the loaf, or what we call the top/skin of the loaf. Upon receiving the bread, the wife was suddenly filled with anger and burst out saying, "For fifty years, you have been very inconsiderate by giving me the heel of the loaf !!"

The man was caught by his wife's outburst but when she finished her complain, the man quietly said, "But honey, that was my favorite!!"

The moral is that the acts of concern/love/affection by some have very much became part of them and are performed naturally without any deliberation.

Although the aim is the same, people have many different ways/actions of expressing their concern/love for their love ones. Therefore, before one jumps to conclusion on the actions of their spouse or anyone, they should reflect on why is the other person is doing that particular thing!

A Shameful Carpenter

An elderly carpenter was ready to retire. He told his employer 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 his career.

When the carpenter finished his work and the builder came to inspect the house, the contractor handed the front-door key to the carpenter. "This is your house," he said, "my gift to you."

What a shock! What a shame!  If he had only known he was building his own house, he would have done it all so differently. Now he had to live in the home he had built none too well.

So it is with us. We build our lives in a distracted way, reacting rather than acting, willing to put up less than the best. At important points we do not give the job our best effort. Then with a shock we look at the situation we have created and find that we are now living in the house we have built. If we had realized, we would have done it differently.

Think of yourself as the carpenter. Think about your house.  Each day you hammer a nail, place a board, or erect a wall. Build wisely. It is the only life you will ever build. Even if you live it for only one day more, that day deserves to be lived graciously and with dignity.

The plaque on the all says, "Life is a do-it-yourself project." Who could say it more clearly? Your life today is the result of your attitudes and choices in the past. Your life tomorrow will be the result of your attitudes and the choices you make today.