🏠 The Carpenter's Last House

An old carpenter worked for the same builder for thirty years. He built beautiful, strong houses. Now he was tired and told his boss, 'I want to retire and rest with my family.'

The boss felt sad to lose his best worker. He asked one last favour: 'Please build just one more house before you go.'

The carpenter agreed, but his heart was not in it. He was already dreaming of rest. So he worked fast and carelessly. He used cheap wood. He did not check the corners. He painted over mistakes.

It became the worst house he had ever built in his whole life. But he thought, 'Who cares? This is my last one.'

When it was done, the boss came to see it. He put a hand on the carpenter's shoulder, handed him the keys of the house, and said, 'This house is my retirement gift to you. Thank you for thirty years.'

The carpenter's heart sank. If only he had known he was building his own house! He would have chosen the best wood and given his finest work.

We are all like that carpenter. Every day, with each task we do well or badly, we are building the 'house' we will live in tomorrow. Build wisely.