Building your House 建好你自己的房子（在线收听）

[00:02.73]Building your House建好你自己的房子

[00:05.06]An elderly carpenter was ready to retire.

[00:08.73] He told his employer of his plans

[00:11.47]to leave the house-building business

[00:13.33]to live a more leisurely life with his wife

[00:15.73]and enjoy his extended family.

[00:18.03]He would miss the paycheck each week,

[00:20.36] but he wanted to retire.

[00:22.43]The employer was sorry to see his good worker go

[00:25.28]and asked if he could build just one more house as a personal favor.

[00:29.65] The carpenter said yes,

[00:31.40] but over time it was easy to see

[00:34.03]that his heart was not in his work.

[00:36.22]He resorted to shoddy workmanship and used inferior materials.

[00:40.92] It was an unfortunate way to end a dedicated career.

[00:45.73]When the carpenter finished his work,

[00:49.56] his employer came to inspect the house.

[00:51.86] Then he handed the front-door key to the carpenter and said,

[00:56.13]"This is your house... my gift to you."

[00:58.97]The carpenter was shocked!

[01:01.59]What a shame!

[01:03.67] If he had only known he was building his own house,

[01:06.73] he would have done it all so differently.

[01:09.25]So it is with us.

[01:11.98]We build our lives,

[01:13.63]often putting less than our best into the building.

[01:16.90]Then, with a shock,

[01:18.55]we realize we have to live in the house we have built.

[01:21.94] If we could do it once more,

[01:24.34]we would do it much differently.

[01:26.64]But, you cannot go back.

[01:29.26] You are the carpenter,

[01:31.01]and every day you hammer a nail,

[01:33.09] place a board, or erect a wall.

[01:35.28] Someone once said, "Life is a do-it-yourself project."

[01:39.54] Your attitude and the choices you make today,

[01:42.50]help build the "house" you will live in tomorrow.

[01:46.43]Therefore, build wisely!