Edward Rourke was an iron worker in England. He wanted to travel to the united states. He wanted a better life for himself, plus his friends who were in America were always writing to him telling him how great American was and he should come here for a better life.
Edward, having no real ties in England, one day decided he would work hard for a year and save up enough money to purchase a ticket on a cruise ship. So he did. He worked extra hours, pinched his pennies a bit, but after about 9 months he finally had barely enough to purchase a ticket on a cruise ship to America
The times being as they were, the trip would take 2 to 3 weeks to cross the ocean. To prepare for his long journey, with the little bit of money he had left after buying his ticket, Edward went out and purchased a suitcase and all the cheese and crackers he could afford. He then Filled half the suitcase with a few articles of clothing and the other half of it was filled with cheese and crackers.
Once on board, during mealtimes the other passengers went to a large dining room filled with tables and plates and an abundance of delectable foods. For breakfast, lunch and dinner the spreads were amazing. But, for each meal Edward would go into a corner and eat his crackers and cheese. He would smell the delicious aroma of the foods coming from the dining room, and often daydream about how tasty it would be if he was able to afford it.
Many nights and mornings he would see and hear the other passengers, making jokes about how stuffed they are and how they are going to have to go on a diet after this trip. Yet Edward stuck to his crackers and cheese because he couldn’t afford anything else.
So one day near the end of the trip, A gentleman after having a big dinner, Saw Edward eating his cheese and crackers and walked over to him. The gentleman asked Edward: “Excuse me sir. I couldn’t help but noticed you’re always over here eating those cheese and crackers, Why don’t you come into the banquet room with everyone else and eat?
Flushed with embarrassment Edward leaned forward to the gentleman's ear so that the conversation can only be heard by the two of them and said “ well, i’ll be honest with you, i only had enough money to buy the ticket. After that i didn’t have money to buy fancy meals.
The gentleman raised his head and his eyebrows with surprise. He Looked at Edward with a smile and said “ Sir, don’t you realize the meals are included with the price of the ticket? Your meals have already been paid for.
Whenever I think about that story I think about how true it is in relation to God, life and what we are entitled to out of this life. You see once we are born, once we enter this world, It doesn’t matter where we came from, what social standing, what color, what race, what religion. Once we are here we are entitled to everything life has to offer because life is all inclusive, just like Edward's ticket. Unfortunately like Edward a lot of people don’t know that and are doomed to stay in the corner eating cheese and crackers. It's time to claim your rightful allowance from life, Life owes us NOTHING, because life already gives us everything. It's up to you to go out and get it.
So what's it going to be?!!! Filet Mignon, or cheese and crackers!
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