The woman and 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 that time on I have 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 socials and 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 a fork in my  hand and I want them to wonder 'What's with the fork?' Then I 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 t he 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 cloak 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. He 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.

Have a great week!
And keep  your fork.
Kisses


Alê

Friends having fun together...

Text sent by Alexandre Pagliuca Gomes