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| 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. The plaque on the wall
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.
-- Unknown |
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