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 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. 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.