The Carpenter's Last House

"We shall surely be remembered for something; something good or something bad; something mediocre or something noble; something great or something small! In all things we do, always and always, let us not forget that we shall either be remember for something or nothing, and be it something or nothing, we shall still be remembered! If you are to be noted for your words, let the words be that which are breath-taking! If you are to be noted for your attitude, let that attitude be that which is solemn and distinctive! If you are to be noted for your thoughts, let the thought be that which gives unique reasons to ponder for distinctive footprints! If you are to be noted for your deeds, let the deeds be that which touches the heart of Heaven!” - Ernest Agyemang Yeboah

There's a story of an great older carpenter who had built great houses over the years but was ready to retire. He told his employer, a contractor, that he was going to leave the house building business to enjoy a life of leisure with his wife and family. Although he would miss his paycheck, he and his wife would get by.

The contractor expressed mixed feelings. He would be sorry the carpenter left, yet he was happy that the carpenter would be able to have some time to enjoy a more relaxing life.

Before the carpenter could work his final day the contractor asked for a personal favor: Would he build just one more house? It would mean a lot to the contractor. The carpenter agreed. But in time it was easy to see that the carpenter's heart was no longer in his work. Each day he resorted to less than his best work, shoddy workmanship and used inferior materials. It was an unfortunate way to end his great career. However he finished his work.

When the contractor 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." You can imagine the shock. If only the carpenter had known he was building his own house, he would have done it all so differently. But now, he had to live in a home he had built inferior to the ones he had built in the past.

Maybe the same is true of you. Maybe you've built your life to this point in a distracted way, reacting rather than acting 'on purpose', willing to accept less than the very best. Then upon realization, you survey your creation only to realize that you must now live the life you've sloppily built for yourself. If you had only realized that would be the case, you certainly would have done it differently. 

There is a plaque on the wall that says, "Life is a do-it-yourself project." It cannot be put any clearer.  Your life today is a result of your attitudes, choices and actions in your past. Your life tomorrow will be the result of attitude, choices and actions you make and take today.

Always do your best and give your best.  Live every day with purpose and on purpose.  Start today. Make today and every day GREAT!