A pastor was ministering to a woman in his congregation who had been given three months to live. She had asked him to come over to help her get her affairs in order, including choosing the hymns and readings that would be featured at her funeral. She also told him what dress she wanted to be laid out in. But what surprised the pastor, wasn’t any of this, it was her next request that made him highly confused…
He wasn’t surprised that she asked to be buried with her favorite Bible, but it did bewilder him when she enthusiastically added that she wanted to have a fork placed in her hand. When the pastor asked why, she explained that her reasoning for this was borne from a lifetime of attending potluck dinners.
Every time the main course was winding down, someone would inevitably say, “Make sure you keep your fork!” She knew that meant that something delicious was coming for dessert, and she was never disappointed. So she wanted the fork in her hand as a reminder that the best has yet to come. The pastor was deeply touched by the idea and readily agreed to her request.
When visitors came to the funeral home, they were surprised to see her holding a fork in the casket. The pastor was delighted to have the opportunity to share with each one the hope that this optimistic woman had expressed. He gently told each guest that the fork was there to teach them that the best was yet to come. Each visitor smiled as they thought of her enjoying her heavenly desserts, confident in the belief that they would join her one day.