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 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 know
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 to 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. The plaque on
the wall says, "Life is a do-it-yourself project."
Lesson from the Story:
Who could say it more clearly? 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 choices you make today
Author:Unknown
