An elderly carpenter was ready to retire. He told his
employer-contractor of his plans to leave the house building
business and live a more leisurely life with his wife enjoying his
extended family. He would miss the paycheck, but he needed to
retire. They could get by.

  The contractor was sorry to see his good worker go and asked
if he could build just one more house as a personal favor.
The carpenter said yes, but in time it was easy to see that his
heart was not in his work. He resorted to shoddy workmanship and
used inferior materials. It was an unfortunate way to end his
career.

  When the carpenter finished his work and the builder 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."

  What a shock! What a shame! If he had only known he was building
his own house, he would have done it all so differently.
Now he had to live in the home he had built none too well.

  So it is with us. We build our lives in a distracted way,
reacting rather than acting, willing to put up less than the best.
At important points we do not give the job our best effort.

  Then with a shock we look at the situation we have created,
and find that we are now living in the house we have built.

  If we had realized, we would have done it differently.

  Think of yourself as the carpenter. Think about your house.
Each day you hammer a nail, place a board, or erect 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
graciously and with dignity.

  The plaque on the wall says, "Life is a do-it-yourself project."

  Who could say it more clearly? 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.