Thursday, February 27, 2014
THE CARPENTER
THE CARPENTER
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 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.
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.
For More Information Contact: The Real Building Manual written and inspired
by The Master Carpenter of Life! :-)
-- Author Unknown
<>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <><
Visit our website at: http://www.emailministry.org
-- 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 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.
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.
For More Information Contact: The Real Building Manual written and inspired
by The Master Carpenter of Life! :-)
-- Author Unknown
<>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <><
Visit our website at: http://www.emailministry.org
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# posted by F O O D F O R T H O U G H T @ 7:01 AM 
