Question

An elderly carpenter (木匠) was ready to retire (退休).He told his boss of his plans to leave the house business and live a more comfortable life with his wife enjoying his big family, looking after their grandchildren. He would miss the paycheck (薪金), but he really needed to retire. The boss was sorry to see his good worker go and asked if he could build just one more house as a personal favor. The carpenter agreed, but this time it was easy to see that his heart was not in his work. He used bad materials and worked carelessly. It was an unlucky way to end his career. When the man finished his work and the boss came to check the house, he handed the front door key to the carpenter. "This is your house," he said. "My gift to you." What a shame! If he had only known he was building his own house, he would have done it all so differently. Now he has to live in the home he had built sadly.

So it is with us. We build our lives in an absent-minded way, willing to do less than the best. At important points we do not give the job our best effort. Then with a shame, we fall into the situation we have created and find we are now living in the "house" we have built.

1.The elderly carpenter planned to live a more comfortable life alone.

2.The boss asked the man to build just one more house as a personal favor.

3.The man agreed with the boss, he used the good materials and worked carefully.

4.After checking the house, the boss didn't give it to the man as a gift.

5.From the story, we learn your life today is the result of your attitudes and choices in the past.

Answer 1