Keepthefork

A message to our buyers:

As I sit at my kitchen table thinking about the busyness of the weekend and upcoming events to take place, I am looking at the fork bracelets differently. Seeking the definition of “fork” I notice the verb meaning, to dig, manipulate or lift. It is an action, an attitude, a determination. We have those challenges in our lives that bring us to a choice to make, the “fork” in the road. We wonder which direction to take. And once we make the decision we ask ourselves is it the right one. Reflecting back of the last 30 years of my life, I now see the different paths I have taken to lead me to forks in the road. I believe in God and I commit my life to Him. I know challenges have and will continue to come, whether I bring them on myself or not, my God is with me always. He brought me through them, maybe not the outcome I wanted but it was His outcome, His plan. Let me illustrate: We are the fork. The fire is the challenge. Once we are in the fire, it’s uncomfortable, it doesn’t feel good. We want out! But we have to stay in the fire to bring about change in us. Like the forks. If I take the fork out before its ready to bend, it doesn’t work, I have to throw it back in. Time spent in our challenges prepares us. Changes us. We see things in ourselves, good and not so good. A change we need to make for the better. Change is never easy. But once the fork turns that red color I know its time. I take the fork out; bending and twisting it until it becomes a bracelet. Then I place the newly bent fork into a tumbler for the final step. The tumbler has water, sand and sometimes small peebles to refine the metal, making it smooth and polishes it. After several hours of tumbling I remove the forks, rinse them, wipe them dry and see a beautiful, unique bracelet! Not one bracelet looks the same. Like us, we are beautiful, created by God, we too are unique and not one of us is the same. The fire is the challenge that brings about the attitude to change. The bending of the fork is creating the change. The tumbler that refines, smooths and polishes is part of the healing we need to bring us from the ashes to beauty. So in closing, remember when wearing one of our bracelets, we are the fork, the metal. We are strong and durable to withstand the heat of the challenge. Believe it. Be and stay hopeful. Never give up. Dig in, for the best is yet to come!
-Julie

The story to our buyers:

In September of 2000, my mom's precious sister Sherry passed away from breast cancer. At her funeral a friend of hers brought her parents a fork and the story "Keep your Fork". Twelve years later the concept of "The Best is Yet to Come" fork bracelet was created. Each fork is an original--handmade with a forty-eight hour creation process. Our forks were designed to inspire and to create optimism, because at the end of the day the best is yet to come.

Below is the beautiful "Keep your Fork" story:


There was a woman who had been diagnosed with a terminal illness and had been given 3 months to live. As she was getting her “things in order,” she contacted her pastor and had him come to her house to discuss certain aspects of her final wishes. She told him which songs she wanted sung at her service, what scriptures she would like read, and what outfit she wanted to be buried in. The woman also requested to be buried with her favorite Bible. Everything was in order and the pastor was preparing to leave when the woman suddenly remembered something very important to her. “There’s one more thing,” she said excitedly. “What’s that?” came the pastor’s reply. “This is very important,” the woman continued. “I want to be buried with a fork in my right hand.” The pastor stood looking at the woman, not knowing quite what to say. “That surprises you, doesn’t it?” the woman asked. “Well, to be honest, I’m puzzled by the request,” said the pastor. The woman explained. “In all my years of attending church socials and potluck dinners, I always remember that when the dishes of the main course were being cleared, someone would inevitably lean over and say, “Keep your fork.” It was my favorite part because I knew that something better was coming - like velvety chocolate cake or deep-dish apple pie. Something wonderful, and with substance! So, I just want people to see me there in that casket with a fork in my hand and I want them to wonder “What’s with the fork?” Then I want you to tell them, “keep your fork... the best is yet to come.” The pastor’s eyes welled up with tears of joy as he hugged the woman good-bye. He knew this would be one of the last times he would see her before her passing. But he also knew that the woman had a better grasp of heaven than he did. She KNEW that something better was coming. At the funeral people were walking by the woman’s casket and they saw the pretty dress she was wearing and her favorite Bible and the fork placed in her right hand. Over and over, the pastor heard the question “What’s with the fork?’ And over and over he smile. During his message, the pastor told the people of the conversation he had with the woman shortly before her passing. He also told them about the fork and about what it symbolized to her. The pastor told the people how he would not stop thinking about the fork and told them that they probably would not be able to stop thinking about it either. He was right. So the next time you reach down for your fork, let it remind you oh so gently, that the best is yet to come.