An elderly carpenter was ready to retire. He told his boss of his plans to leave the house-building business to live a free life with his wife and children. He would miss the paycheck each week, but he wanted to retire. He believed that they could get by.
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 said yes, but over time it was easy to see that his heart was not in his work. He used poor materials and built the house carelessly. It was a pity to end a dedicated career.
When the carpenter finished his work, his boss came to check the house. Then he handed the front-door key to the carpenter and said, “This is your house... my gift to you.”
The carpenter was shocked!
What a shame! If he had only known he was building his own house, he would have done it all so differently.
So it is with us. We build our lives, a day at a time, often putting less than our best into the building. Then, with a shock, we realize we have to live in the house we have built. If we could do it over, we would do it much differently.
But, you cannot go back. You are the carpenter, and every day you hammer a nail, place a board, or build a wall. Someone once said, “Life is a do-it-yourself project.” Your attitude, and the choices you make today, help build the “house” you will live in tomorrow. Therefore, Build wisely!
【日积月累】
carpenter n.木匠
He is learning the carpenter's trade. 他在学木匠手艺。
英语中有个惯用表达the carpenter's son，字面意思为“木匠之子”，常用来代指基督教的创史人“耶稣”，因其父亲是一位木匠。
over time 随着时间的推移，久而久之
The pain of this failure will disappear over time. 随着时间的推移，失败的伤痛也会逐渐消失。
注意它与合写的overtime（加班）意思不同。如：
This new order will mean us working overtime. 这一新定单意味着我们得加班加点。
dedicated adj.献身于……的，专心致志的
She's completely dedicated to her work. 她一心一意扑在工作上。
在be dedicated to结构中，to为介词，后接动词时要用动名词。如：
The organization is dedicated to protecting the environment. 该组织致力于保护环境。
a day at a time 得过且过，做一天和尚敲一天钟
He doesn't have any beliefs; he just takes a day at a time. 他没有什么信仰，每天只是得过且过。
【参考译文】
建你自己的房子
一位上了年纪的木匠准备要退休了，于是他告诉老板说要离开建筑业去与自己的妻子和孩子一起过自由自在的生活。虽然他也不太舍得那每周都会按时入账的薪水，但他还是决定退休，他相信他们会撑过去。
得知这名优秀员工要离开，老板很是难过，于是他问木匠能否看在个人情份上替他再建一栋房子。木匠答应了，但是随着时间的推移，人人都看得出他的心已经不在工作上了。他不仅仅使用劣质材料，而且工作三心二意，像这样来结束自己一生奉献的事业很是让人遗憾。
木匠结束工作后，他的老板来检查房子，然后他给了木匠一把前门钥匙，告诉他：“这是你的房子，我送给你的礼物。”
木匠震惊了！
他感到非常惭愧，如果早知道这房子是为他自己建的，那他肯定就会用一种完全不同的心态来建这栋房子了。
我们也一样，自己建造自己的生活，做一天和尚敲一天钟，从来没有竭尽全力。然后我们会惊奇地发现，自己必须要住进自己建的这房子。如果可以重来一次的话，我们肯定会换个方式。
但是，事情已经无可挽回了。你就是那个木匠，每天，你都会钉一口钉子，放一块木板，或者树一堵墙。曾经有人说过：“生活就是一个'自己动手'工程。”你的态度和你今天的选择都决定了你明天将要住进去的房子。所以，要明智点“建房”。
【人生启迪】
其实每个人都是在为自己的未来努力，今天的点点滴滴可能都与自己的未来息息相关，只是我们自己从来都没意识到，然而等我们意识到时才发现自己已不得不要住进虽是自己建造但自己却并不满意的“房子”里，就像这个木匠一样。所以我们做任何事都要善始善终，坚持是一种品质，是一种美德，是一种让你老了退休后能住进好“房子”的踏实心情！