Martha was famous for being friendly. If there was a worthy cause, she made the time and gave the dimes.
One night, Martha had a dream. She saw a majestic house with red ribbons wrapped around the chimney. At the crack of dawn, Martha sat up and pondered her dream. Her heart fluttered like a June bug. She eagerly drove around town, searching. Would she ever find this mystical house?
Her luck was bad, her appetite good. She settled for a stack of pancakes at a roadside cafe. Martha's journey, and the pancakes, gave birth to a raging thirst. She drew her midnight vision on the napkin and drank orange juice as if there was no tomorrow.
Then, something clicked inside. If she could not find the house, she would build the house.
Martha hired her nephew Nathan as the building contractor. With the house plans in hand, Nathan was given specific instructions. "Build it rock solid." Nathan knew this unique house was his call to fame.
Nathan also knew he would have thousands of dollars available to buy building materials. Slowly, like a small dark shadow, an idea crept onto the stage of his mind. It grew into a decision that would change his life forever.
Nathan was hired to build a rock solid home. However, he purchased cheap, weak supplies and pocketed the savings.
Instead of placing the framing studs sixteen inches apart, he placed them at intervals of 24 inches. These weak walls were covered with painted sheetrock.
Likewise, while building the roof, Nathan put down cheap, flimsy plywood sheets but covered them with attractive shingles. Wherever he could, Nathan put the cheapest materials possible.
Finally, the house was finished. Even though the house was poor in quality, Nathan made it sparkle on the outside. Martha walked through her house with quivering lips. Tears filled her eyes; it was exactly like the house in her dream.
Then she remembered; in the dream red ribbons were wrapped around the chimney. Her mind pounced on a decision that made her laugh out loud. Martha had a history of shocking people with her kindness.
Martha decided to give the new home that Nathan built, to Nathan. All she needed was to see her dream house. Martha felt she had moved enough.
Upon hearing of the incredible gift, Nathan felt like one sad hairy dog. Old Nathan left his fantasy world in a dead run. He was quite busy trying to strengthen his house by moonlight.
Just as Nathan ended up moving into the house that he built, every student, in every school around the world, will move into their own house one day. You are building it now. You start building the foundation in kindergarten as you learn your numbers and ABC's.
As you move into middle school, you start building the walls. Some students are lazy and don’t care about good grades and good walls. They could be in for a life-long wake-up call in a room full of regret.
During high school, your roof is put in place. Many students tell themselves they will "shape up" in high school. Old habits die hard, and many leave school unprepared for the realities of life.
They want a better life, a better house, and a better car. However, they were not prepared to pay the price by working hard in school.
To furnish your house perfectly, attend college. Many employers will not hire people without a college degree.
Most parents don’t want kids riding their couch at 19, eating cheetos and watching TV all day long. They want them working or studying, preparing for their own home and family.
Where will you live? You are building it now. Build your house and build it well. |
