The Fork... Something Good is Coming

[SSScout]

The woman had been told by her doctor to put her affairs in order. She knew that, as with all people, her time approached. She called her pastor and asked him to come visit. She had some important things to discuss with him.

When he arrived, she made some tea and they sat down together. She told him of her conversation with her doctor, that she wished to discuss her final arrangements, her funeral. She had no near family and so, to her,the church was her family. He listened attentively, "of course", he said, "what can we do for you".

She told him of her favorite hymns, scriptures to be read, how she wished to be dressed, that she wished to be buried with her Bible.He made note of everything.

"Oh yes", she said, "one more thing. Would you please make sure that I have a fork in my hand." "A fork?" The pastor had heard some different requests in his day, but this caught him by surprise. He smiled. "Why a fork?"

The woman explained: "In my years of attending church socials and dinners, where food is involved,-- and pastor, you must admit food is a big part of our get togethers!-- my favorite part is when whomever was clearing away the dishes of the main course would lean over and say 'you can keep your fork'. It was my favorite part because I knew that something good was coming. Somethng better. When they said to keep my fork, it meant that something worth waiting for was coming. Something of substance, not jello or pudding, but cake or pie.

So I want the folks that come to see me in my casket to see that fork and then ask YOU about it and you can tell them , it's because I know something good ,something better is coming, so keep your fork, too."

Days later, the pastor and the other church people helped lay the woman to rest. She was indeed surrounded by the people that loved and would miss her. And they did ask about the fork. The pastor told them about the woman's last request and how he was pleased to help her with it. He told them that when they reach for that fork at dinner time to remember to "keep" it, to let it remind you - oh so gently - that there is something better coming.

 

:: found in some old papers of a friend::