An elderly carpenter told his contractor that he planned to retire from house building to enjoy more leisure time with his family. The contractor asked him to build just one more house as a personal favor. The carpenter agreed but lacked enthusiasm for the work, using shoddy workmanship and materials. When finished, the contractor handed the carpenter the house key, revealing that the house was a gift for the carpenter himself. The carpenter was shocked, realizing that if he had known, he would have built the house much better. He now had to live in the subpar home he had constructed.

1. Story To Reflect
Upon 47
THE CARPENTER
An elderly carpenter was ready to retire. He told his employer 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.
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.
Reflections
* When one is given a responsibility or task to perform one
should carry it out well, giving the best one can.
* So many in the world, out of greed, poor attitude or delusion
do not do honest work diligently. There is a price to pay … to the
detriment of oneself.

2. Story To
Reflect Upon 48
The ‘ABRAHAM LINCOLN’ Lesson
There was one man in this world who believed in himself
and who became a “lighthouse” for millions of people who
followed him. His name was Abraham Lincoln. His resume is
as follows:
Age.22, failed in business.
Age.23, ran for legislature and was defeated
Age 24, failed again in business.
Age.25, elected to legislature
Age 26, sweetheart died.
Age 27, had a nervous breakdown.
Age 29, defeated for speaker
Age 31, defeated for elector
Age 34, defeated for Congress.
Age 37, elected to Congress
Age 39, defeated for Congress
Age 46, defeated for Senate
Age 47, defeated for Vice president
Age 49, defeated for Senate
Age 51, elected President of the United States of America
Abraham Lincoln did not bother what people said about him
when he failed. Even when he became the President, people still
criticized him but instead of becoming stressful, he expressed this
deathless line: “No man is good enough to be President but
someone has to be.”
Reflections
* One needs to prove one’s worth. Do not be concerned about
what people say.
*Failure is not failure but failure is failing to rise up after the fall.
There is no success without failure.