Something better is coming

The story below is one of my favorites. It probably makes the email rounds every year but it never ceases to amaze me. We need to look forward to something better...

THE FORK

There was a young woman who had been diagnosed with a terminal illness and had been given three months to live.

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 that?" the Pastor replied.

"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 absolutely wonderful!

"So I just wanted 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?'

"I want you to tell them my story of keeping the fork. And then I want you to share the gospel."

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 tremendous grasp of heaven. She knew that something better was coming.

At the funeral, people were walking by the young woman's casket and saw the fork placed in her right hand.

Over and over, the Pastor heard the question, "What's with the Fork?"

Over and over, he smiled. And shared her story and the gospel of Jesus Christ.

--Author Unknown