An elderly carpenter agreed to build one last house as a favor to his contractor before retiring. However, with his heart no longer in his work, the carpenter did a shoddy job using inferior materials. When finished, the contractor presented the house as a gift to the carpenter. Horrified at the poor quality of the house he would have to live in, the carpenter realized he should have treated it as if building his own home. The story is a metaphor for how we build our lives through our daily choices, and we must live with the "house" we have built.

1. BUILDING
A LIFE
AUTHOR UNKNOWN

2. An elderly carpenter was ready to retire, and
he told his boss of his plans to leave and live a
more leisurely life with his wife. He would
miss the paycheck, but he needed to retire.
They could get by.

3. The contractor was sorry to see such aThe contractor was sorry to see such a
good worker go, and he asked thegood worker go, and he asked the
carpenter to build just one more housecarpenter to build just one more house
as a personal favor.as a personal favor.
The carpenter said yes, butThe carpenter said yes, but
in time it was easy to seein time it was easy to see
that his heart was not in histhat his heart was not in his
work. He resorted towork. He resorted to
shoddy workmanship andshoddy workmanship and
used inferior materials. Itused inferior materials. It
was an unfortunate way towas an unfortunate way to
end a dedicated careerend a dedicated career..

4. When the carpenter finished
his work, the employer
came to inspect the house.
He handed the front-door
key to the carpenter. “This
is your house,” he said. “It
is my gift to you.”
The carpenter was shocked! What aThe carpenter was shocked! What a
shame! If he had only known he wasshame! If he had only known he was
building his own house, he would havebuilding his own house, he would have
done it all so differently.done it all so differently.

5. If we couldIf we could
do it over,do it over,
we’d do it muchwe’d do it much
differently. Butdifferently. But
we cannot gowe cannot go
back…back…
So it is with us. We buildSo it is with us. We build
our lives, a day at a time,our lives, a day at a time,
often putting less than ouroften putting less than our
best into the building.best into the building.
Then with a shock weThen with a shock we
realize we have to live inrealize we have to live in
the house we have built.the house we have built.

6. You are the carpenter of
your life. Each day you
hammer a nail, place a
board, or erect a wall.
Your attitudes and the
choices you make today
build your “house” for
tomorrow…
Build wisely!

7. He will show you how to build
a strong foundation for the
‘house’ of your life.
Ask God to be the
Master-builder of
your life!
PLEASE PASS THIS ON TO OTHERS!