a good story and a goodbye

Once upon a time there was this girl who had four friends.

She loved the 4th friend the most and adored him with rich robes and treated him to the finest of delicacies. She gave him nothing but the best.

She also loved the 3rd friend very much and was always showing him off to neighboring kingdoms. However, she feared that one day he would leave her for another.

She also loved her 2nd friend. He was her confidant and was always kind, considerate and patient with her. Whenever this girl faced a problem, she could confide in him, and he would help her get through the difficult times.

The girls 1st friend was a very loyal partner and had made great contributions in maintaining her wealth and kingdom. However, she did not love the first friend. Although he loved her deeply, she hardly took notice of him!

One day, the girl fell ill and she knew her time was short. She thought of her luxurious life and wondered, "I now have four friends with me, but when I die, I'll be all alone." Thus, she asked the 4th friend, "I loved you the most, endowed you with the finest clothing and showered great care over you. Now that I'm dying, will you follow me and keep me company?"

"No way!", replied the 4th friend, and he walked away without another word. His answer cut like a sharp knife right into her heart.

The sad girl then asked the 3rd friend, "I loved you all my life. Now that I'm dying, will you follow me and keep me company?"

"No!", replied the 3rd friend. "Life is too good! When you die, I'm going to marry someone else!" Her heart sank and turned cold.

She asked the 2nd friend, "I have always turned to you for help and you've always been there for me. When I die, will you follow me and keep me company?"

"I'm sorry, I can't help you out this time!", he replied. "At the very most, I can only walk with you to your grave." His answer struck her like a bolt of lightning, and the girl was devastated.

Then a voice called out: "I'll go with you. I'll follow you no matter where you go." The girl looked up, and there was her first friend. He was very skinny as he suffered from malnutrition and neglect.

Greatly grieved, the girl said, "I should have taken much better care of you when I had the chance!"

In truth, you have 4 friends in your lives: Your 4th friend is your body. No matter how much time and effort you lavish in making it look good, it will leave you when you die. Your 3rd friend is your possessions, status and wealth. When you die, it will all go to others. Your 2nd friend is your family and friends. No matter how much they have been there for you, the furthest they can stay by you is up to the grave.

Your 1st friend is your Soul. Often neglected in pursuit of wealth, power and pleasures of the world. However, your Soul is the only thing that will follow you where ever you go. Cultivate, strengthen and cherish it now, for it is he only part of you that will follow you to the throne of God and continue with you throughout Eternity.

I have been thinking a great deal about time and what I choose to do with it. Right now I choose to homeschool my older children, care for and nurture my younger children, run, read, and work on a writing class. In the past 6 months I have neglected my other great love of quilting. I can't both blog and quilt as both take up the precious daily hour I carve out for myself.

It has been said many times after someone found a quilt of Jane Austin's making, "The world would be better off if she had written another book rather than spent her time making a quilt." I think it would be better if I make more quilts than write. So, I will continue to read up on other's homeschooling exploits, and may occasionally post, but I need to get back to my passion for color and design, for crafting something that will warm the body as well as the soul.