I’m not a huge fan of email forwards. It’s probably that I just get so many…I find them to be overwhelming at times. If the subject looks interesting, I normally save it and try to get back to read it later.

Today I got an email from my friend, Kristy. I don’t get a lot of email from Kristy, so the fact that she had sent me a forward caught my eye. The subject was “Woman and a Fork”, which also grabbed my attention. So, instead of setting it aside, I went ahead and opened it.

I hadn’t heard this story before, and it really spoke to me, so I wanted to share it with you. Take a look…

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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 contacted her Pastor 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 Pastor 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 Pastor’s reply.

‘This is very important,’ the young woman continued. ‘I want to be buried with a fork in my
right hand.’

The Pastor 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 Pastor.

The young woman explained. ‘My grandmother once told me this story, and from that time on
I have 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 Pastor’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 Pastor heard the question, ‘What’s with the fork?’ And over and over he smiled.

During his message, the Pastor 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. He 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. Cherish the time you have, and the memories you share… being friends with someone is not an opportunity but a sweet responsibility.
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I don’t know who the author of this story is or whether it is true or not. I do know that I might now request to be buried with my fork in hand. What a beautiful last gesture and what a wonderful comfort to those who love you to know that you believe in something more to come.

I know that I, for one, look on this lifetime as a challenge that I have accepted. This life is an opportunity for me to grow, to better myself, to balance my karma, to learn, to teach. Where I go from here is left to be seen and experienced.

I feel for those people who believe in nothing. How sad for them to not be able to anticipate something more to come. What will they miss by not keeping their fork? I’m not sure. But I for one will, at the very least, hold tight to my fork in my mind and heart.

I hope you hold on to yours too.

Peace, love and spiritual cutlery to all.
Mari

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