I’m a pessimist who works hard at being positive and upbeat.  I do this because it’s important for my emotional, physical, spiritual…well, my overall health and wellness.  Every now and then, I get a little more pessimistic than usual.  Today was the day.  I asked myself, “Self, what’s the point in getting to know people when they are just going to die on you or leave you in some way?”  This was not the first time I’ve asked myself this question, but due to recent events, it has come up again.

My husband’s usually my voice of reason.  He stepped into this roll again today.  He reminded me that we all need somebody.  We all need each other.  We are here to be a blessing to one another.  He told me the story of hell and the pitchforks.  Have you heard it?

There was a good man who died and was on his way to heaven.  His last request was to see hell before he ascended.  He was just curious about what hell looked like.  So, he went to hell.  He saw skinny, malnourished people sitting at tables full of food.  They each had a pitchfork to eat with.  They were forbidden to use anything other than the pitchfork, not even their own hands.  The man observed each person attempt to lift his pitchfork to his mouth, but no one could manage to keep the food on the pitchfork or bring it to his mouth.

The good man said he had enough of hell.  He was ready to go to heaven.  When he got there, he noticed tables full of food with people using pitchforks.  He wondered how heaven was any different from hell.  Upon closer inspection, he noticed that the people sitting at heaven’s tables were healthy and happy.  Even though they were using pitchforks, they were feeding each other.  Everyone was able to eat from someone else’s pitchfork.

I like this story.  I hope I did my part in being a blessing in your life today.  My husband certainly did his.

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