An elderly carpenter was ready to retire. He told his employer-contractor of
his plans to leave the house-building business and live a leisurely life with
his wife enjoying his extended family. He would m iss 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 a dedicated career. When
the carpenter finished his work the employer came to inspect the house. He
handed the front-door key to the carpenter. "This is your house," he said, "my
gift to you."

       The carpenter
was shocked! What a shame! If he had only known he was building his own house,
he would have done it all so differently.

 

So
it is with us. We build our lives, a day at a time, often putting less than
our best into the building. Then with a shock we realize we have to live in
the house we have built. If we could do it over, we’d do it much
differently.  But we cannot go
back.

       You are the carpenter.
Each day you hammer a nail, place a board, or erect a wall. "Life is a
do-it-yourself project," someone has said. Your attitudes and the choices you
make today, build the "house" you live in tomorrow.  Build
wisely!

Remember… Work like you don’t need the
money.
Love like you’ve never been hurt.
Dance like nobody is
watching.