Build Quality Into Your House and Into Your Friendships | Filed under General
Build Quality Into Your House and Into Your Friendships
(Author Unknown)
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 of your life as the 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, do it to the best of your ability.”
I saw this story and decided it would be very thought provoking and I could use it to remind us all about friends. Do we treat our friends the way we want to be treated and are treated? Do you know the difference between a friend and an acquaintance for there is a very big one. Make certain you are aware of the difference and that today you do not make the mistake the gentleman did as he built the house. Cherish your friends and build those friendships to last and always remember what the plaque on the wall says and you will be very rich in life. Yes Life Is Simply Good.
February 11th, 2005 at 1:23 pm
Excellent comparison… but so true for a lot of people unfortunately.:roll:
February 11th, 2005 at 3:01 pm
What a great lesson in that story…and yes, it good to know the difference.
Happy Friday!
February 11th, 2005 at 3:29 pm
For most people that is a true fact. Some have gained that knowledge and live it everyday. Some were taught and have never strayed from the path. The question remains of which are you?
February 11th, 2005 at 5:09 pm
I really like that!! Thanks for sharing it.
Have a wonderful day! *HUGS*
February 11th, 2005 at 7:55 pm
Excellent post !! Yes, Life is Always Good !! *HUGS*
February 11th, 2005 at 8:04 pm
Me again….
I love your SteelMagnolias skin, Vickie. Of course, I am a wee bit partial to magnolias.
It’s beautiful!
February 11th, 2005 at 8:47 pm
He girl, Great post and oh so true!
February 11th, 2005 at 10:44 pm
Vickie, you have done it again…beautiful beautiful. I love your blog and I love your soul.
February 11th, 2005 at 11:05 pm
And quality always shines through.
-G
February 12th, 2005 at 1:25 pm
I love this story. I think I need to pick up the phone and work on some relationships today.
February 12th, 2005 at 2:41 pm
Nice post, yet again.
February 12th, 2005 at 2:45 pm
Vickie, i don’t believe i’ve ever seen a point made in a beteer way. You must be very loved by those around you. I wish you all the best always.
February 12th, 2005 at 4:24 pm
Oh what a wonderful lesson-story and I loved how you used it to remind us of a very important lessons…some of myt favourite stories do just that.
February 12th, 2005 at 4:41 pm
Wonderful story! I’m an architect, and the ideas in this about craftsmanship and quality of materials really speak to me… and work beautifully as metaphor.
Time to go do a little more construction work of my own!