I read recently about a woman who had been diagnosed with cancer and was given three months to live. Her doctor told her to make preparations to die, so she contacted her pastor and told him how she wanted things arranged for her funeral service - which songs she wanted to have sung, what Scriptures that should be read, and what words should be spoken and that she wanted to be buried with her favorite Bible.

But before she left, she called out to him, "One more thing." "What?" "This is important. I want to be buried with a fork in my right hand." The pastor did not know what to say. No one had ever made such a request before. She she explained. "In all my years going to church functions, whenever food was involved, my favorite part was when whoever was cleaning dishes of the main course would lean over and say, YOU CAN KEEP YOUR FORK.

"It was my favorite part because I knew that it meant something great was coming. It wasn't Jell-O. It was something with substance - cake or pie - Biblical food.

"So I just want people to see me there in my 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 SOMETHING BETTER IS COMING. KEEP YOUR FORK."

The pastor hugged the woman good-bye. And soon after, she died. At the funeral service, people saw the dress she had chosen, saw the Bible she loved, and heard the sons she loved, but they all asked the same question: WHAT'S WITH THE FORK? The pastor explained that this woman, their friend, wanted them to know that for her - or for anyone else who dies in Christ - this is not a day of defeat. It is a day of celebration. The real party is just starting.

SO KEEP YOUR FORK. SOMETHING BETTER IS COMING!

"I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith. Henceforth, there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness which the Lord, the righteous judge, will give to me at that Day. And not only to me, but also to those who love his apparing." Philippians 4:7-8

LOVE AND GOOD CHEER!
Pastor Raymond W. Nyquist