An elderly carpenter was ready to retire. He told his
employer-contractor of his plans to leave the House-buiding business and live a
more leisurely life with his wife enjoying his extended family. He would miss
the pay check, but he needed to retire. He would 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 favour. 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." The carpenter was
shocked! What a shame! If he had only known he was building his own house, he
would have done it all so differently.
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, erect a wall. "Life is a do-it-yourself project,"
someone has said. Your attitude and the choices you make today build the
"house" you live in tomorrow
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