Have you read the, “Keep Your Fork” forward before?
This is a classic that I’ve always loved. Is it based on a real story? From the digging that I’ve done, probably not. It seems that it’s related to some other tales about people keeping forks for dessert, and then some people started to use this as an illustration in messages about heaven. The story we’re familiar with was popularized in the Chicken Soup for the Soul series of books.
As with many of these forwards, sometimes it’s kind of disappointing when we find out that it’s not likely based on true events. At the same time, this forward’s truth does not really rest on whether or not there was actually a terminally ill woman who made such a request. The illustration is still true. We need to live today with the anticipation and urgency of people who know we’re headed towards something even better in the life to come.
What does that mean for us right now? How do you live with a “keep your fork attitude”? And today on Ash Wednesday, in the season of lent, we often think about sacrifice. As people who have the best yet to come, sacrificing today so others can share in that joy forever is not much to ask. So as you’re pondering your Lenten sacrifices, think about how your giving something up can be done with a “keep the fork” attitude- my sacrifice will help others enjoy eternity in heaven.
