Anelderlycarpenterwasreadytoretireafteryearsofwork.Hetoldhisemployer-contractorofhisplanstoleavethehouse-buildingbusinesstoliveamoreleisruelylifewithhiswifeandenjoyhisextendedfamily.Hewouldmissthepaycheckeachweek,buthewantedtoretire.Withthemoneythecarpenterhadputasideduringtheyearsheworkedfortheemployer-contractor,theycouldgetby.
Thecontractorwasverysorrytoseehisgoodworkergoandaskedifhecouldpossiblybuildjustonemorehouseasapersonalfavorforhim.Thecarpentersaidyeas,butovertimeitwaseasytoseethathisheartwasnotinhisworkatall.Heresortedtoshoddyworkmanshipandusedinferiormaterials.Yousee,itwasanunifortunatewaytoendadedicatedcareer.
Whenthecarpenterfinishedhiswork,hisemployercametoinspectthehouse.Thenhehandedthefront-doorkeytothecarpenterandsaid,"Thisisyourhouse...mygifttoyou."
Whatashame!Ifhehadonlyknownhewasbuildinghisownhouse,hewouldhavedoneitallsodifferently.
Soitiswithus.Webuildourlives,adayatatime,oftenputtinglessthanourbestintothebuilding.Then,withashock,werealizewehavetoliveinthehousewehavebuilt.Ifwecoulddoitalloveragain,wewoulddoitmuchdifferently.
Youarethecarpenter,andeverydayyouhammeranail,placeaboard,orerectawall.Someoneoncesaid,"lifeisado-ityourselfproject."Yourattitudeandthechoicesyoumaketodayhelpstobuildthe"house"youwillliveintomorrow.Therefor,buildwisely!