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 enjoying his extended family. He
would miss the paycheck, but he needed to retire.
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 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 it wisely!!
