Post by Killer on Jan 18, 2004 9:58:30 GMT -5
The Carpenter
Once upon a time two brothers who lived on adjoining farms
fell into conflict. It was the first serious rift in 40 years of farming
side by side,sharing machinery, and trading labor and goods as needed
without a conflict. Then the long collaboration fell apart. It began with a
small misunderstanding and it grew into a major difference, and finally it
exploded into an exchange of bitter words followed by weeks of silence.
One morning there was a knock on John's door. He opened it to find a man
with a carpenter's tool box.
"I'm looking for a few days' work" he said. "Perhaps you would have a few
small jobs here and there I could help with? Could I help you?"
"Yes," said the older brother. "I do have a job for you. Look across the
creek at that farm.That's my neighbor, in fact, it's my younger brother.
Last week there was a meadow between us and he took his bulldozer to the
river levee and now there is a creek between us.
Well, he may have done this to spite me, but I'll do him one better. See
that pile of lumber by the barn? I want you to build me a fence an 8-foot
fence so I won't need to see his place or his face anymore."
The carpenter said, "I think I understand the situation". Show me the nails
and the post-hole digger and I'll be able to do a job that pleases you."
The older brother had to go to town, so he helped the carpenter get the
materials ready and then he was off for the day. The carpenter worked hard
all that day measuring, sawing, nailing. About sunset when the farmer
returned, the carpenter had just finished his job. The farmer's eyes opened
wide, his jaw dropped.
There was no fence there at all.
It was a bridge -- a bridge stretching from one side of the creek to the
other! A fine piece of work, handrails and all and the neighbor, his younger
brother, was coming toward them, his hand outstretched. "You are quite a
fellow to build this bridge after all I've said and done." The two brothers
stood at each end of the bridge, and then they met in the middle, taking
each other's hand. They turned to see the carpenter hoist his toolbox onto
his shoulder.
"No, wait! Stay a few days. I've a lot of other projects for you," said the
older brother."I'd love to stay on," the carpenter said,"but I have many
more bridges to build".
MORAL OF THE STORY ? REMEMBER THIS
~ God won't ask what kind of car you drove, but He'll ask how many people
you drove who didn't have transportation.
~ God won't ask the square footage of your house, but He'll ask how many
people you welcomed into your home.
~ God won't ask about the clothes you had in your closet, but He'll ask how
many you helped to clothe.
~ God won't ask what your highest salary was, but if you have compromised
your character to obtain it.
~ God won't ask what your job title was, but He'll ask if you performed your
job to the best of your ability.
~ God won't ask how many friends you had, but He'll ask how many people to
whom you were a friend.
~ God won't ask in what neighborhood you lived, but He'll ask how you
treated your neighbors.
~ God won't ask about the color of your skin, but He'll ask about the
content of your character.
~ God won't ask how many people you forwarded this to, but He'll ask if you
were ashamed to pass it on to your friends.
Once upon a time two brothers who lived on adjoining farms
fell into conflict. It was the first serious rift in 40 years of farming
side by side,sharing machinery, and trading labor and goods as needed
without a conflict. Then the long collaboration fell apart. It began with a
small misunderstanding and it grew into a major difference, and finally it
exploded into an exchange of bitter words followed by weeks of silence.
One morning there was a knock on John's door. He opened it to find a man
with a carpenter's tool box.
"I'm looking for a few days' work" he said. "Perhaps you would have a few
small jobs here and there I could help with? Could I help you?"
"Yes," said the older brother. "I do have a job for you. Look across the
creek at that farm.That's my neighbor, in fact, it's my younger brother.
Last week there was a meadow between us and he took his bulldozer to the
river levee and now there is a creek between us.
Well, he may have done this to spite me, but I'll do him one better. See
that pile of lumber by the barn? I want you to build me a fence an 8-foot
fence so I won't need to see his place or his face anymore."
The carpenter said, "I think I understand the situation". Show me the nails
and the post-hole digger and I'll be able to do a job that pleases you."
The older brother had to go to town, so he helped the carpenter get the
materials ready and then he was off for the day. The carpenter worked hard
all that day measuring, sawing, nailing. About sunset when the farmer
returned, the carpenter had just finished his job. The farmer's eyes opened
wide, his jaw dropped.
There was no fence there at all.
It was a bridge -- a bridge stretching from one side of the creek to the
other! A fine piece of work, handrails and all and the neighbor, his younger
brother, was coming toward them, his hand outstretched. "You are quite a
fellow to build this bridge after all I've said and done." The two brothers
stood at each end of the bridge, and then they met in the middle, taking
each other's hand. They turned to see the carpenter hoist his toolbox onto
his shoulder.
"No, wait! Stay a few days. I've a lot of other projects for you," said the
older brother."I'd love to stay on," the carpenter said,"but I have many
more bridges to build".
MORAL OF THE STORY ? REMEMBER THIS
~ God won't ask what kind of car you drove, but He'll ask how many people
you drove who didn't have transportation.
~ God won't ask the square footage of your house, but He'll ask how many
people you welcomed into your home.
~ God won't ask about the clothes you had in your closet, but He'll ask how
many you helped to clothe.
~ God won't ask what your highest salary was, but if you have compromised
your character to obtain it.
~ God won't ask what your job title was, but He'll ask if you performed your
job to the best of your ability.
~ God won't ask how many friends you had, but He'll ask how many people to
whom you were a friend.
~ God won't ask in what neighborhood you lived, but He'll ask how you
treated your neighbors.
~ God won't ask about the color of your skin, but He'll ask about the
content of your character.
~ God won't ask how many people you forwarded this to, but He'll ask if you
were ashamed to pass it on to your friends.