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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. They could 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 favor. 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 his career. When the carpenter
finished his work and the builder came to inspect the house, the contractor
handed the front-door key to the carpenter. "This is your house," he said,
"my gift to you."
What a shock! What a shame! If he had only
known he was building his own house, he would have done it all so
differently. Now he had to live in the home he had built none too well.
So it is with us. We build our lives in a
distracted way, reacting rather than acting, willing to put up less than the
best. At important points we do not give the job our best effort.
Then with a shock we look at the situation we
have created and find that we are now living in the house we have built. If
we had realized, we would have done it differently.
Think of yourself as the carpenter. Think
about your house. Each day you hammer a nail, place a board, or erect a
wall. Build wisely. It is the only life you will ever build. Even if you
live it for only one day more, that day deserves to be lived graciously and
with dignity.
Your life today is the result of your
attitudes and choices in the past. Your life tomorrow will be the result of
your attitudes and the choices you make today.
For More Information Contact: The Real
Building Manual written and inspired by The Master Carpenter of Life! :-) |
