An elderly carpenter was ready to retire. He told his employer of his plans to leave the house building business and live a more leisurely life with his wife enjoying his extended family.

He would miss the paycheck, but he wanted to retire. They could get by. The contractor was sorry to see his good worker go and asked if he could build just one more house as a personal favor. The carpenter said “yes”, but his heart was not in his work. He resorted to shoddy workmanship and used inferior materials. It was an unfortunate way to end his career.

When the carpenter

finished his work and

the builder came to

inspect the house, the contractor handed the front-door key to the carpenter. “This is your house,” he said, “my gift to you.”

What a shock! What

a shame! If he had only known he was building

his own house, he would have done it all so differently. Now he had to live in

the home he had built

none too well.

So it is with us. If we

build our lives in a distracted way, reacting rather

than acting, willing to put up less than the best. At important points we do not give the job our best effort. Then with a shock we look at the situation we have

created and find that we

are now living in the house we have built. If we had realized that we would have done it differently.

Think of yourself as the carpenter. Think about your house. Each day you hammer a nail, place a board, or erect a wall. Build wisely.

It is the only life you will ever build. Even if you live it for only one day more, that day deserves to be lived graciously and with dignity.

The plaque on the

wall says, “Life is a do-it-yourself project.”

Your attitudes and the choices you make today

will be your life tomorrow, build it wisely.