Suitcases and Duffel Bags

      There once was a rich man who was near death. He was very grieved because he had worked so hard for his money and he wanted to be able to take it with him to heaven. So he began to pray that he might be able to take some of his wealth with him.

     An angel hears his plea and appears to him. “Sorry, but you can’t take your wealth with you.” The man implores the angel to speak to God to see if He might bend the rules. The man continues to pray that his wealth could follow him. The angel reappears and informs the man that God has decided to allow him to take one suitcase with him. Over- joyed, the man gathers his largest suitcase and fills it with pure gold bars and places it beside his bed.

     Soon afterward the man dies and shows up at the Gates of Heaven to greet St. Peter. St. Peter seeing the suitcase says, “Hold on, you can’t bring that in here!” But, the man explains to St. Peter that he has permission and asks him to verify his story with the Lord.

     Sure enough, St. Peter checks and comes back saying, “You’re right. You are allowed one carry-on bag, but I’m supposed to check its contents before letting it through.” St. Peter opens the suitcase to inspect the worldly items that the man found too precious to leave behind and exclaims, “You brought pavement?!!!”

     Packed away at the bottom of my closet along with camping gear are the family's suitcases and they're packed, not with pavement but with duffel bags. If you ever go traveling and spend the night somewhere other than home, you know just hoe useful these items can be. With a family of 9 we usually end up with 2 to 4 suit cases and a handful of duffel bags filled when ever we go spend the night somewhere.

     Maybe you don't keep your suit cases in a bedroom closet, but chances are, if you have them you use them.

      Dear Lord, Thank you

• For suit cases and duffel bags