"Well today I would like to share a little story with you if that's alright, so pull up a chair and relax,  it isn't a very long story, 
but it will give you something to think about I am sure. 
Are you sitting comfortably?  Great, then I will begin."

The sound of Martha's voice on the other end of the telephone always brought a smile to Pastor Jim's face.  She was not 
only one of the oldest members of his congregation,   but
one of the most faithful.  Aunt Martie,  as all of the children 
called her,  just seemed to "ooze" faith, hope and love 
wherever she went.  This time,  however, there seemed
to be an unusual tone to her words.  "Pastor, could you stop
by this afternoon?  I need to talk with you." 
"Of course, I'll be there around three.  Is that okay?"

It didn't take long for Jim to discover the reason for what he 
had only sensed in her voice before.  As they sat facing 
each other in the quiet of her small living room.
Martha shared the news, that her Doctor had just discovered
a previously undetected tumour.  "He says I probably 
only have six months to live." 
Martha's words were naturally serious,  yet there was a 
definite calm about her.  "I'm so sorry to...."  but before
Jim could finish,  Martha interrupted.  "Don't be. 
The Lord has been good.  I have lived a long life. 
I am ready to go.  You know that."
"I know," Jim whispered with a reassuring nod.

"But I do want to talk with you about my funeral.  I have been thinking about it, and there are things that I know I want." 
The two talked quietly for a long time. They talked about 
Martha's favourite hymns,   the passages of Scripture
that had meant so much to her through the years and
the many memories they shared from the five years Jim had 
been with the Church.  When it seemed that they had
covered just about everything,  Aunt Martie paused,  looked 
up at Jim with a twinkle in her eye,   and then added, 
"One more thing, Pastor.  When they bury me,  I want my old Bible in one hand and a fork in the other."  "A fork?" 
Jim was sure he had heard everything, but this caught him by surprise.  "Why do you want to be buried with a fork?"

"I have been thinking about all of the Church dinners and banquets that I attended through the years," she explained, 
"I couldn't begin to count them all.  But one thing sticks in my mind,  at those really nice get-togethers, when the meal was
almost finished,  a server or maybe the hostess would come
by to collect the dirty dishes.  I can hear the words now.  Sometimes,  at the best ones, somebody would lean over my shoulder and whisper,  'you can keep your fork.'  And do you knowwhat that meant?  Dessert was coming! 
It didn't mean a cup of Jell-O  or pudding or even a dish of ice cream.  You don't need a fork for that.  it meant the good
stuff,  like chocolate cake or cherry pie!"

"When they told me I could keep my fork,  I knew the best was yet to come! That's exactly what I want people to talk about at my funeral.  Oh, they can talk about all the good times we had together.  That would be nice.  But when they walk by my
casket and look at my pretty blue dress,  I want them to turn
to one another and say,  'Why the fork?' 
That's when I want you to tell them,  that I kept my fork
because "THE BEST IS YET TO COME".
Source Unknown.

So tell me,  what did you think of that little story?  I loved it 
and it certainly does have a meaning to it don't you think?  
But then I guess it would only have a meaning to it if you knew 
for sure that you were going to get dessert.  Do you know for sure that the 'main course' (your life here on earth)  will be followed by 'Dessert?' ( Eternal Life) I do because I have 
taken the right steps to make sure that I get Dessert,  I am not letting go of my fork and  you too can be just as sure as
I am if you want to.

All you have to do is pray this prayer right from your heart,
'Dear Lord Jesus, I thank you that you died for my sins, 
I ask you to forgive me for all of my sins and cleanse me.
Please come into my heart now and help me to
live the kind of life that will glorify You. 
I want to be able to go to Heaven one day and I thank you
that you have provided the way.  AMEN'

Now all you need to do is to find yourself a Bible believing 
Church that teaches that Jesus is the Son of God, that He died
for our sins, that he was raised on the third day and is now 
seated at the right hand of God.   Then you too can share
some of those lovely Church dinners and banquets that 
Martha talked about,   but nothing will compare with the
banquet we will share with the Lord in Heaven one day.

I hope you have enjoyed your time with me and that you will 
come back and visit with me again sometime. 
God bless you and if you have any questions please feel
free to email me , I would love to hear from you anyway.

Thank you Danny for giving me permission to use your 
Inspired Art on this site to The Glory of God.