From the Desk of Father Nathan

A Message from Father Nathan

My dearest people who are all close to my heart!

Prayerful greetings and wishes to you…

Thank You For all The Birthday Wishes

Thank you for all of your birthday wishes. It was overwhelming. Thanks a million. As I told you, I praise God for the greatest gift of the priesthood.

Keep your Fork!  – keep reading and You’ll understand 🙂 

A friend shared this beautiful story and I thought I would share this with you..here you go.

You will never look at a fork the same way again! KEEP YOUR 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 to be 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 is 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 the message to those I love and those who are in need of the 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 the 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 goodbye. He knew this would be one of the last times he would see her before her death. But 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 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. Cherish the time you have, and the memories you share. Being friends with someone is not an opportunity, but a sweet responsibility.

Share this with everyone you consider a FRIEND…..and I’ll bet this will be a message to remember, every time they pick up a fork!

And just remember….keep your fork! The best is yet to come!

God bless you all and I keep you in my prayers.

– With lots of love and blessing,

Ever at your service.

—Fr. Sahayanathan Nathan