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. He recently 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 do 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 and
> 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 that stretched 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 toward them, 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
> middle, taking each other's hand. They turned to see the
> carpenter hoist his toolbox onto 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 what kind of car you drove, but He'll ask
> how many people you helped get where they needed to go.
> 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 friends you had, but He'll ask how many people to
> whom you were a friend. God won't ask in
> what neighborhood you lived, but He'll ask how you
> treated your neighbors. God won't ask
> about the color of your skin, but He'll ask about the
> content of your character. 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.
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