The Best is Yet To Come

As I watched the second candle (the candle of Peace) of the Advent season lit in church on Sunday, I thought about a fork my friend gave me to start the Christmas season.

It was something no one had ever given me- a silverware set, but not just one fork. However, with the dainty fork that I could wear as a pendant, she gave me a beautiful story to go with it.

It seems a woman had been diagnosed with a terminal illness and was given three months to live. As she was “getting her affairs in order,” she contacted her pastor and asked him to come to her home to discuss her “final wishes.”

She told him which songs she wanted to be sung at the service, what scriptures to read, and the final outfit she wanted to wear. The woman also wanted to be buried with her favorite Bible.

Everything was in order, and the pastor was preparing to leave when the woman said, “There’s one more thing!”  “What’s that?” asked the pastor. “This is very important,” the woman continued excitingly. “I want to be buried with a fork in my right hand.”

The pastor stood and looked at the woman, unsure what to say.

“That surprises you, doesn’t it?” the woman asked. “Well, to be honest, I’m puzzled by the request,” said the pastor.

The woman explained, “In all my years of attending church socials and potluck dinners, I always remember that as we cleared the dishes, someone would inevitably lean over and say, “Keep your fork.”

She explained to her pastor, “It was my favorite part because I knew something better was coming, like velvety chocolate cake or deep-dish apple pie, something delicious and with substance.”

“I want people to see me there with a fork in my hand, she told him. 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!”

Advent, “coming” in Latin, marks the beginning of a new church year and is a time of expectancy and preparation for the Savior’s coming. It is a time that Christians believe came 2,000 years ago with the birth of Jesus, yet we wait expectantly for it to happen again.

The first candle that was lit for the Advent season was Hope. That was what the woman in the story wanted people to see as they said goodbye to her. With only one thing left to give as she ended her life, she gave a symbol of Hope because it was what she felt people needed the most.

The second candle lit was for Peace.

I couldn’t help but think of the times I may have missed that part of Christmas. It was always about trying to buy presents we couldn’t afford. One of the greatest lessons I have learned is that children don’t thrive on the gifts we believe in. What makes them feel loved the most is the time we spend with them and the unconditional Love surrounding them.

Last Sunday, I watched as a couple in our church shared the responsibility of lighting the third candle of the Advent season, the candle of Love.

The mother and daughter read scripture; the dad lit the three candles, and the son finished by encouraging us that we live in hope, peace, and joy that with.

I could see the Love on their faces as they took turns reading scripture and lighting the third Advent candle.

Love is still the best gift to give those around us. We can provide it in so many ways, and it feels so good when it is returned.

The last candle to be lit for the Advent season will be the candle of Joy. My fork pendant fastened to my blouse that my friend gave me reminds me that joy is something I can have all year long. Because I know the best is yet to come.