請保留下你的叉子

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兩千那一年，我們初到陌生的德州，居住的小區百戶另三家，散落在一灣有
五六百英畝地的青翠小山巒裏，在常年流水潺潺的小溪邊，我家與Adriane
一家遙遙相望，自此我們成為相互生活裏的朋友，再到不可或缺的好朋友。

但逢感恩、聖誕、新年...... 我和外子每每被當作家庭成員，一無遺漏地被他
們一家五口真誠溫馨邀請，出席節日盛宴。和Adriane一家在一起，我們總是
得到自然款待，相互談笑裕如。剛認識時，他們三個美麗的女兒，最小的九
歲到最長的十四歲，已經出落得禮貌周到、儀態萬方。認識不久後，跟我家
學著沿用東方的家規，他們在家裏也開始進門就脫鞋了。節日裏，他們全家
人一起動手，早幾天起就開始用傳統的手法，準備製作一道道美味又美觀的
佳肴、蘸汁和甜點。我原本不很會做飯，其時在他們的慫恿下也興致勃勃在
他們家的廚房裏手把手地教他們包餃子，用來作為餐前的一碟小吃。聰明不
過的女孩們，三雙健康而嬌嫩的素手，那麽優雅那麽輕快。從和麵、攪餡、
擀皮、包餃、下鍋，直到上桌，一切都曼妙輕盈，和諧愉悅。

四年後，我和外子因為工作關係搬回加州，而Adriane一家也因工作關係搬去
肯奈緹卡州（Connecticut）。自此我們少了謀麵，卻多了電話郵件往來。

不僅和Adriane夫婦通信和電話，而且孩子們每一位畢業，每一次贏得大小獎
項，每一個男朋友進入她們的世界，凡此種種家庭裏的喜事，我們都一一近
水樓台頻獲第一手消息。

前年Adriane夫婦帶著最小的女兒一同前來加州訪問我們，約好下一次我們
去探望他們。我和外子今天正式決定明年的秋天，我們要去肯奈緹卡州回訪。
為了這個美麗的夢想，我們開始預備最理想的心情禮物。外子一早就開始收
拾車庫，我也幫著他把雜物移到頂層的格子間。經過一個上午的努力，現在
的一間車庫已然寬敞明亮，它有足夠的空間作為外子的畫室。看到外子開心
的樣子，我也開心地想象到底他會做上一幅或幾幅怎樣的畫呢？悄悄地，我
期待著。

下麵是今早Adriane發來的郵件部分內容，也是讓我們終於決定明年一定要出
行回訪他們的新動力。傳上來和城裏的朋友們分享：

How many times I've been to family gatherings and I hear these
words....keep your fork. I really like this story and hope you do,
too.

Woman and a Fork

There was a young woman who had been diagnosed with a
terminal illness and had been given three months to live. So
as she was getting her things 'in order,' she contacted her
Pastor and had him come to her house to discuss certain
aspects of her final wishes.

She told him which songs she wanted sung at the service,
what scriptures she would like read, and what outfit she
wanted to be buried in.

Everything was in order and the Pastor was preparing to leave
when the young woman suddenly remembered something very
important to her.

"There's one more thing," she said excitedly.

"What's that?" came the Pastor's reply.

"This is very important," the young woman continued. "I want
to be buried with a fork in my right hand."

The Pastor stood looking at the young woman, not knowing
quite what to say.

"That surprises you, doesn't it?" the young woman asked.

"Well, to be honest, I'm puzzled by the request," said the Pastor.

The young woman explained. 'My grandmother once told me
this story, and from that time on I have always tried to pass
along its message to those I love and those who are in need
of encouragement. In all my years of attending socials and
dinners, I always remember that when the dishes of the main
course were being cleared, someone would inevitably lean
over and say: "keep your fork."

It was my favorite part because I knew that something better was
coming... like velvety chocolate cake or deep-dish apple pie.
Something wonderful, and with substance!

So, I just want people to see me there in that casket with a fork in
my hand and I want them to wonder "What's with the fork?" Then I
want you to tell them:

"Keep your fork, the best is yet to come."

The Pastor's eyes welled up with tears of joy as he hugged the
young woman good-bye. He knew this would be one of the last
times he would see her before her death. But he also knew that
the young woman had a better grasp of heaven than he did. She
had a better grasp of what heaven would be like than many people
twice her age, with twice as much experience and knowledge. She
KNEW that something better was coming.

At the funeral people were walking by the young woman's casket
and they saw the cloak she was wearing and the fork placed in her
right hand. Over and over, the Pastor heard the question, "What's
with the fork?" And over and over he smiled.

During his message, the Pastor told the people of the conversation
he had with the young woman shortly before she died. He also told
them about the fork and about what it symbolized to her. He told the
people how he could not stop thinking about the fork and told them
that they probably would not be able to stop thinking about it either.

He was right. So the next time you reach down for your fork let it
remind you, ever so gently, that the best is yet to come. Friends
are a very rare jewel, indeed! They make you smile and encourage
you to succeed . They lend an ear, they share a word of praise, and
they always want to open their hearts to us .

Show your friends how much you care. Remember to always be there
or them, even when you need them more. For you never know when
it may be their time to "Keep your fork."

Cherish the time you have, and the memories you share ...

Being friends with someone is not an opportunity but a sweet
responsibility.

I consider you a FRIEND.

And keep your fork.

《星光攜夢》