How will you live your life?

Someone shared this story with me. It touched me. I hope it touches you too.

A very good carpenter felt he was getting old. He told his boss of his plans to leave.

The boss was very sorry to see him go. He asked the carpenter if he could build just one more house as a personal favour.

The carpenter said yes. But after some time it was easy to see that he was not trying his best. His workmanship was not good. He used poor materials. It was sad.

The boss came to look at the house when the carpenter finished it. He then gave the carpenter the key to the front-door.

"This is your house", he said, "my gift to you for so many years of good work."

What a shock! What a shame! If only yhe carpenter had known he was building his own house, he would have done his job differently. Now he has to live in the home he had not built properly.

There is a lesson in this for all of us.

How are we building our lives?

Are we simply following orders or are we doing a good job because we believe any job we do is worth doing well?

Are we satisfied when we put in less than our best?

Or are we among those who, at important points, do not give the job their best effort.

Then, with a shock, they look at what has happened and find that they are now living in the house they had built. If they realise it, I am sure they would have done things differently.

Think of yourself as the carpenter. Think about your house. Each day you hammer a nail, lay a carpet or build 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 with pride and dignity.

Your life today is the result of your attitudes and choices in the past.

Your life tomorrow will be the result of your attitudes and the choices you make today.