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 and enjoy his extended family. He
would miss the
paycheck, but he wanted 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 a
dedicated career.
When the carpenter finished his work the employer came
to inspect the
house. He handed the front-door key to the carpenter.
"This is your
house,"
he said, "my gift to you."
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'd do it
much
differently. But we cannot go back. You are the
carpenter. Each day you
hammer a nail, place a board, or erect a wall. "Life
is a
do-it-yourself
project," someone has said. Your attitudes and the
choices you make
today
build the "house" you live in tomorrow.
Build wisely! Work like you don't need the money.
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