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 hitch. 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 toolbox.
 "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 go 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 across,
 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 on 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."
 

 
 REMEMBER THIS:
 
 - 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 how many material possessions you
 had, but He'll ask if they dictated your life.
 
 - God won't ask how many promotions you received,
 but He'll ask how you promoted others.
 
 - 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 what you did to help yourself, but
 He'll ask what you did to help others.
 
 - 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 what you did to protect your rights,
 but He'll ask what you did to protect the rights of
 others.
 
 - God won't ask in what neighborhood you lived, but
 He'll ask how you treated your neighbors.
 
 - God won't ask why it took you so long to seek
 Salvation, but He'll lovingly take you to your
 mansion in heaven, and not to the gates of Hell.
 
 - God won't ask how many people you forwarded this
 to, but He'll ask if you were ashamed to send it.

Submitted by Kevin Holmes