A Woman and a Fork

--- the best is yet to come

     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 Rabbi (法师）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 （经文）she would like read, and

     what outfit （用具）she wanted to be buried in.

     Everything was in order and the Rabbi was

     preparing to leave when the young woman suddenly

     remembered something very important to her.

     "There's one more thing," she said excitedly.

     "What' that?" came the Rabbi's reply.

     "This is very important," the young woman

     continued. "I want to be buried with a fork in my

     right hand."

     The Rabbi 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 Rabbi.

     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 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 （象天鹅绒的, 柔软的）chocolate cake or deep-dish apple pie.

     Something wonderful, and with substance!'

     So, I just want people to see me there in that

     casket （棺材）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 Rabbi'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 cloak （斗篷，宽大外衣）she

     was wearing and the fork placed in her right

     hand. Over and over, the Rabbi heard the

     question

     "What's with the fork?" And over and over he

     smiled.

     During his message, the Rabbi 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 （牧师）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. Show your friends how much

     you care. Remember to always be there for them,

     even when you need them more. For you never know

     when it may be their time to "Keep your fork."

     Cherish the time you have, and the memories you

     share... being friends with someone is not an

     opportunity but a sweet responsibility.

" If you are thinking one year ahead, you plant rice. If you are 

thinking twenty years ahead, you plant trees.  If you are thinking 

a hundred years ahead, you  educate people.