A carpenter was ready to retire.
He had built houses for decades with integrity and soul.
But he was tired.
The employer was sorry to see his best worker go,
And as a personal favour,
Asked if he could build just one last house.
The carpenter said yes,
But his heart was no longer in his work.
He resorted to shoddy workmanship.
He used inferior timber and cut corners to finish quickly.
When the carpenter finished the house,
His employer came to inspect it.
He handed the front door key to the carpenter.
And said,
This is your house.
It's my gift to you for all your years of hard work.
The carpenter was devastated.
If only he had known he was building his own house,
He would have done it so differently.
He would have used the finest oak.
He would have made sure the foundation was unshakeable.
Now he had to live in the house he had built,
With his own lack of care.
This powerful story illustrates a deep truth.
We build our lives.
The quality of the materials we use today build our tomorrows.
Every day with every thought and every action we are laying a brick.
When we choose thoughts of anger or resentment over thoughts of peace,
We are pitting faulty beams in our own ceilings.
When we speak words of kindness,
We are insulating our own walls.
When we work with integrity.
When we act with kindness,
With love,
Care and presence.
We are building a high quality life.
