This story will make you ponder... 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 would 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 agreed, but as time passed, it was easy to see that his heart was not in his work. He had 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, one day at a time, often putting less than our best into the effort. Then, with a shock, we realize that 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. We are all carpenters. Each day, we hammer a nail, put a board in place, or erect a wall. Someone once said, "Life is a do-it-yourself project." Our attitudes and the choices we make today, build the "house" that we will live in tomorrow. Build wisely! Remember, we are not here to see through people, we are here to see people through!

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