Building Your House

An elderly carpenter was ready to retire. He told his employer-contractor of his plans to leave the house-building business to live a more leisurely life with his wife and enjoy his extended family. He would miss the paycheck each week, but he wanted to retire. They could get by.

 

The contractor was sorry to see his good worker go & asked if he could build just one more house as a personal favor. The carpenter said yes, but over 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, his employer came to inspect the house. Then he handed the front-door key to the carpenter and said, "This is your house... 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 would do it much differently.

 

But, you cannot go back. You are the carpenter, and every day you hammer a nail, place a board, or erect a wall. Someone once said, "Life is a do-it-yourself project." Your attitude, and the choices you make today, help build the "house" you will live in tomorrow. Therefore, Build wisely!

Saying Grace in a Restaurant

_Sometimes we forget the really important things in life._

Last week, I took my grand-children to a restaurant.

My six-year-old grandson asked if he could say grace.

As we bowed our heads he said, "God is good, God is great. 

Thank you for the food, and I would even thank you more

if Nana gets us ice cream for dessert. 

And liberty and justice for all!  Amen!"

Along with the laughter from the other customers nearby,

I heard a woman remark,

"That';s what';s wrong with this country. 

Kids today don';t even know how to pray. 

Asking God for ice cream!  Why, I never!"

Hearing this, my grandson burst into tears and asked me,

"Did I do it wrong?  Is God mad at me?"

As I held him and assured him that he had done

a terrific job, and

God was certainly not mad at him,

an elderly gentleman approached the table.

He winked at my grandson and said, "I happen

to know that God thought that was a great prayer."

"Really?" my grandson asked. 

"Cross my heart," the man replied.

Then, in a theatrical whisper, he added

(indicating the woman whose remark had started this whole thing),

"Too bad she never asks God for ice cream. 

A little ice cream is good for the soul sometimes."

Naturally, I bought my grandchildren ice cream

at  the end of the meal. 

My grandson stared at his for a moment,

and then did something I will remember the rest of my life. 

He picked up his sundae and, without a word,

walked over and placed it in front of the woman. 

With a big smile he told her, "Here, this is for you. 

Ice cream is good for the soul sometimes;

and my soul is good already.