The Builder
Nov/0921
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.
© Author Unknown
Please pass this piece of wisdom to at least 10 people.
(60 votes, average: 4.65 out of 5)
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7:41 pm on November 4th, 2009
Very educating…… We are all builders, in one way or another
7:58 pm on November 4th, 2009
If but all could live our lives in this fashion.
shirley griswold
8:50 pm on November 4th, 2009
Yes, I have made many mistakes in the past and will probably do so in the future, though I will try not to…But…I have done many many more beautiful, kind, compassionate and loving things…which I am proud of, knowing that I have pleased GOD and wanted to do them. I say sometimes, “What would Jesus do?” and take it from there. What a thought provoking piece…well done…well done. Blessings…
GOD bless all who read this…
12:10 am on November 5th, 2009
everything in moderation. A gift appreciated. God will always provide if you believe. A blessed man. Thanks for a positive thought.
1:21 am on November 5th, 2009
i was touched..im sure many individual who can read this message wil think many times about their own life now…about their mistakes….God bless you all.
1:25 am on November 5th, 2009
right…when life is ruled by monsters one ca only juggle to come out..who wants to cry? who wants to stay in unwanted situation? who does not want to be loved?
and to love? it is so easy for some one to advice and show the waves of an ocean while life becomes just a steady weaves of a small pond.one can never fly alone ..one needs a plane…one can never sail without a boat…as every one does not know how to swim!!!!!!!!!!!!recognize a person then say these all..as life is a puzzle for some people.
5:07 am on November 5th, 2009
Dear, in everything I pray to always do my best and give my all…This is a very good inspirational story for living life to the fulliest. Our Strong Love comes from GOD giving us the BEST gift of our wonderful Love, built on the foundation of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. I thank GOD for you Dear!
6:24 am on November 5th, 2009
My Sweetie Baby ” BARRY”, Our friendship is the Foundation of Our Strong Love, which is built with Trust, and Honesty. We are thankful to GOD that He has bestowed upon us the Graces, and faith in our hearts, that bonds Our Love forever. You are the most precious gift , GOD has given, your LOVE is my everything. I Love You so much dear, Missing you a lot. Hugs and Kisses….J …ROOpach…AUS.
7:31 am on November 5th, 2009
Thank you for this card! Its so thrue! But vi have One,and He will help us to
make this house perfekt,My Lord Jesus! And He is my Builder,me Everything!
9:00 am on November 5th, 2009
My hero,He builded me good,Iam strong,ready to be his mainstay…..
1:47 pm on November 5th, 2009
This is indeed a good story to remind us how much God offers to us ,but many of us miss the God-given gifts in life
3:26 pm on November 5th, 2009
This story is a great teacher and the writer did a very great job with this writing. This inspires me to work harder and not to take the gifts of God for granted. I thank you Jesus!
11:49 am on November 6th, 2009
Good points, i love it.
1:32 pm on November 6th, 2009
I’VE SEEN THIS BUILDER BEFORE AND IT IS SO VERY SAD, WHEN HE HAD THE TIME AND THE BEST OF MANIALS TO USE, TO END IT LIKE THIS . A HALF USE HOUSE , FULL OF HOLDS AND THE ONE TO HAVE DONE IT DID INDEED KNOW BETTER SAD SAD.
7:22 am on November 23rd, 2009
O! yes, we are all builder. There is a foundation upon which we build and it stands, Jesus Christ. It is indeed thought provoking, may the Lord help me to always do it like am doing it for the Lord. I like the illustration.
9:07 am on November 30th, 2009
for good performance we have to do a work as if it is yours. thanks, it’s really a concrete message.
12:49 pm on February 6th, 2010
it is such a wonderful mesage for all of us! it is so true that we all shall think this way when we step in life each day and do our best to give out the best!
1:06 pm on February 6th, 2010
YES, WE ARE TO BUILD AS GOD WILL HAVE US TO LIVE, OF ALLOWING THE HOLY SPIRIT, TO TEACH US WHO IS OUR BUILDER WHO IS OUR HELPER. FOR WE MUST BE WILLING TO BUILD THE WAY THE HOLY SPIRIT, FROM GOD OUR HEAVENLY FATHER, COMMANDS US TO. FOR HE KNOWS WE ARE NOT PREFECT IT, THAT WE ARE GOING TO MAKE MISTAKES, BUT WE MUST MAKE SURE OURSELF THAT THEY ARE MISTAKE, AND THAT WE DID TRY FOR OUR HEAVENLY FATHER, ALREADY KNOWS IF WE ARE BUILDING FROM THE LOVE OF HEART. YES WE MUST BUILD WITH FAITH, AND WITH HOPE, BUT THE GREATEST OF THEM ALL IS (“L-O-V-E”), BUILDING WITH LOVE. LOVE WILL MAKE YOU DO IT RIGHT AND BE THANKFUL AND GRACEFUL WHAT OUR HEAVENLY FATHER, HAS DONE FOR US WHO GIVEN US THE GIFT OF (“L-OV-E”), FOR OUR HEAVENLY FATHER, IS LOVE HIMSELF, WHEN HE GAVE UP HIS ONE AND ONLY BEGOTTEN SON,(“JESUS”). THAT NONE SHALL PERISH BUT HAVE ETERNAL LIFE…
2:42 pm on February 6th, 2010
Arlene, powerful message that fits the moral of the story perfect. Amen!
6:18 am on February 7th, 2010
GOD, has bulit a bridge for us to met each other. Little did we know that we will still be here today, sharing the deepest and strong LOVE for each other. Amid the distance we strive to see each other every year, with strong courage and determinations, we were able to fulfill our dreams, walking hand in hand, and sitting beside each other , is the greatest achievements we have done in our lives. I thank God for making our path, and the blessing HE has given us everyday. I love you my babyB, hugs and kisses……..MSS…AU
6:21 am on February 10th, 2010
Educative.