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  Volume 3 - Issue 12
DECEMBER 2005
 
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THE CARPENTER'S HOUSE


An elderly carpenter was ready to retire.

He told his employer of his plans to leave the house building business.

He wanted to live a more leisurely life.

He wanted to spend time with his wife enjoying his extended family.

He would miss the paycheck, he knew, but he needed to retire.

They could get by. 


The employer was sorry to see this 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 employer 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 that 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." Your life tomorrow will be the result of your attitudes and the choices you make today.

- Source: Unknown, Illustrations: Rohit and Shakti, SSSHSS.

- Heart2Heart Team

 
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Vol 3 Issue 12 - December 2005
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