Colossians 3:1-4
1 Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. 3 For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.

I recently received an e-mail article that has probably made its way around the internet.
However, it says just what needs to be said as we read the passage above. By the way,
I promise to not use articles like this very much at all but this one deserves to be used.

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'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 inevitable 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 a fork
in my hand and I want them to wonder, 'What's with the fork?'. Then I want you to
tell them to keep their forks, for 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 say the
pretty dress she was wearing and the fork placed in her right hand. Over and over
the pastor hear the question, 'What's with the fork?' And over and over he smiled.

During the 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 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. Cherish the time you have, and the memories
you share ... being friends with someone is not an opportunity but a sweet responsibility.

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Today as we face the problems and difficulties of this life (we all have them,
just in different forms and in varying degrees) let's each one remember that we have been
promised by Jesus that He is building us a mansion. Keep your fork. Keep you eyes on Jesus.
Keep seeking the things above. "The best is yet to come!"






Editor's Note: The email referenced above is actually a variation of "Keep Your Fork" by Roger William Thomas
from the book A 3rd Serving of Chicken Soup for the Soul.