Attention: TDR Forum Junkies 
>The Fork
>There was a young woman who had been diagnosed with a terminal illness
>and had been given three months to live. So as she was getting her things
>"in order," she contacted her pastor and had him come to her house to
>discuss
>certain aspects of her final wishes.
>
>She told him which songs she wanted sung at the service, what scriptures
>she would like read, and what outfit she wanted to be buried in. Everything
>was in order and the pastor was preparing to leave when the young woman
>suddenly remembered something very important to her.
>"There's one more thing," she said excitedly.
>"What's that?" came the pastor's reply.
>"This is very important," the young woman continued. "I want to be buried
>with a fork in my right hand. " The pastor stood looking at the young woman,
>not knowing quite what to say. "That
>surprises you, doesn't it?" the young woman asked. "Well, to be honest, I'm
>puzzled by the request,"said the pastor.
>The young woman explained. "My grandmother once told me this story,
>and from there on out, I have always done so. I have also, always tried to
>pass along its message to those I love and those who are in need of
>encouragement.
>
>In all my years of attending church socials and potluck dinners, I always
>remember that when the dishes of the main course were being cleared,
>someone would inevitably lean over and say,'Keep your fork. ' It was my
>favorite part because I knew that something better was coming... like
>velvety chocolate cake or deep-dish apple pie. Something wonderful, and
>with substance!' So, I just want people to see me there in that casket with
>fork in my hand and I want them to wonder "What's with the fork?". Then
>want you to tell them "Keep your fork ...
>the best is yet to come. "
>
>The pastor's eyes welled up with tears of joy as he hugged the young woman
>good-bye. He knew this would be one of the last times he would see her
>before her death. But he also knew that the young woman had a better grasp
>of heaven than he did. She had a better grasp of what heaven would be like
>than many people twice her age, with twice as much experience and
>knowledge. She KNEW that something better was coming.
>
>At the funeral people were walking by the young woman's casket and they saw
>the pretty dress she was wearing and the fork placed in her right hand.
>Over and over, the pastor heard the
>question "What's with the fork?" And over and over he smiled. During his
>message, the pastor told the people of the conversation he had with the
>young woman shortly before she
>died. He also told them about the fork and about what it symbolized to her.
>The pastor told the people how he could not stop thinking about the fork
>and
>told them that they probably would not be able to stop thinking about it
>either.
>He was right.
>So the next time you reach down for your fork, let it remind you ever so
>gently, that the best is yet to come.
>Friends are a very rare jewel, indeed. They
>make you smile and encourage you to succeed. They lend an ear, they
>share a word of praise, and they always want to open their hearts to us.
>Cherish the time you have, and the memories you share ... being friends
>with someone is not an opportunity but a sweet responsibility.
>Send this to everyone you consider a
>FRIEND.
>And keep your fork.
>There was a young woman who had been diagnosed with a terminal illness
>and had been given three months to live. So as she was getting her things
>"in order," she contacted her pastor and had him come to her house to
>discuss
>certain aspects of her final wishes.
>
>She told him which songs she wanted sung at the service, what scriptures
>she would like read, and what outfit she wanted to be buried in. Everything
>was in order and the pastor was preparing to leave when the young woman
>suddenly remembered something very important to her.
>"There's one more thing," she said excitedly.
>"What's that?" came the pastor's reply.
>"This is very important," the young woman continued. "I want to be buried
>with a fork in my right hand. " The pastor stood looking at the young woman,
>not knowing quite what to say. "That
>surprises you, doesn't it?" the young woman asked. "Well, to be honest, I'm
>puzzled by the request,"said the pastor.
>The young woman explained. "My grandmother once told me this story,
>and from there on out, I have always done so. I have also, always tried to
>pass along its message to those I love and those who are in need of
>encouragement.
>
>In all my years of attending church socials and potluck dinners, I always
>remember that when the dishes of the main course were being cleared,
>someone would inevitably lean over and say,'Keep your fork. ' It was my
>favorite part because I knew that something better was coming... like
>velvety chocolate cake or deep-dish apple pie. Something wonderful, and
>with substance!' So, I just want people to see me there in that casket with
>fork in my hand and I want them to wonder "What's with the fork?". Then
>want you to tell them "Keep your fork ...
>the best is yet to come. "
>
>The pastor's eyes welled up with tears of joy as he hugged the young woman
>good-bye. He knew this would be one of the last times he would see her
>before her death. But he also knew that the young woman had a better grasp
>of heaven than he did. She had a better grasp of what heaven would be like
>than many people twice her age, with twice as much experience and
>knowledge. She KNEW that something better was coming.
>
>At the funeral people were walking by the young woman's casket and they saw
>the pretty dress she was wearing and the fork placed in her right hand.
>Over and over, the pastor heard the
>question "What's with the fork?" And over and over he smiled. During his
>message, the pastor told the people of the conversation he had with the
>young woman shortly before she
>died. He also told them about the fork and about what it symbolized to her.
>The pastor told the people how he could not stop thinking about the fork
>and
>told them that they probably would not be able to stop thinking about it
>either.
>He was right.
>So the next time you reach down for your fork, let it remind you ever so
>gently, that the best is yet to come.
>Friends are a very rare jewel, indeed. They
>make you smile and encourage you to succeed. They lend an ear, they
>share a word of praise, and they always want to open their hearts to us.
>Cherish the time you have, and the memories you share ... being friends
>with someone is not an opportunity but a sweet responsibility.
>Send this to everyone you consider a
>FRIEND.
>And keep your fork.
