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T
The Shadow
Guest
A Woman and a Fork
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
called her Rabbi 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 she would like read, and
what outfit 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's 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 chocolate cake or deep-dish
apple pie. Something wonderful, and with substance!'
So, I just want people to see me there in that casket
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 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 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.
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
called her Rabbi 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 she would like read, and
what outfit 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's 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 chocolate cake or deep-dish
apple pie. Something wonderful, and with substance!'
So, I just want people to see me there in that casket
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 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 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.
