Anelderlycarpenterwasreadytoretireafteryearsofwork.Hetoldhisemployer-contractorofhisplanstoleavethehouse-buildingbusinesstoliveamoreleisurelylifewithhiswifeandenjoyhisextendedfamily.Hewouldmissthepaycheckeachweek,buthewantedtoretire.Withthemoneythecarpenterhadputasideduringtheyearsheworkedfortheemployer-contractor,theycouldgetby.
Thecontractorwasverysorrytoseehisgoodworkergoandaskedifhecouldpossiblybuildjustonemorehouseasapersonalfavorforhim.Thecarpentersaidyes,butovertimeitwaseasytoseethathisheartwasnotinhisworkatall.
Heresortedtoshoddyworkmanshipandusedinferiormaterials.Yousee,itwasanunfortunatewaytoendadedicatedcareer.Whenthecarpenterfinishedhiswork,hisemployercametoinspectthehouse.Thenhehandedthefront-doorkeytothecarpenterandsaid,“Thisisyourhouse...mygifttoyou.”Thecarpenterwasshocked!Whatashame!
Ifhehadonlyknownhewasbuildinghisownhouse,hewouldhavedoneitallsodifferently.Soitiswithus.Webuildourlives,adayatatime,oftenputtinglessthanourbestintothebuilding.Then,withashock,werealizewehavetoliveinthehousewehavebuilt.Ifwecoulddoitalloveragain,wewoulddoitmuchdifferently.
Butyoucannotgoback.Youarethecarpenter,andeverydayyouhammeranail,placeaboard,orerectawall.Someoneoncesaid,“Lifeisado-it-yourselfproject.”Yourattitudeandthechoicesyoumaketodayhelpstobuildthe“house”youwillliveintomorrow.Therefore,buildwisely!