PastorKevinAustin

Debbie Macomber tells a story that goes something like this:  “A woman arrived at the gates of heaven to be met by St. Peter.  “When you’re ready, I’ll take you on a tour of heaven.”  When the time came for her tour, she could hardly take it all in.  They explored every nook and cranny of heaven – waterfalls, fields of flowers, exquisite buildings, and streets of gold. As the tour drew to an end, she noticed one massive door they had not yet explored. A gold padlock secured it. “What’s in that room?” she asked.  “You don’t want to see that room,” St. Peter said, steering her away from it. “It’s only a storeroom.”  “But I do. May I see inside? I want to see every bit of heaven.”  St. Peter didn’t answer. Instead he took a large key out of his pocket, put it in the lock, and turned it.  He took the lock off and opened the door. Inside the cavernous room were stacks and stacks of gifts, wrapped in all the colors of the rainbow and tied with beautiful ribbons.  She clapped her hands with delight. “Is this where you store presents for everyone in heaven?”  “No. These gifts are not for heaven, they were meant for earth.”  “What do you mean ‘were’?” She walked through the stacks and came to a pile marked with her name. “Look, these gifts are for me.” She fingered the paper and ribbons. “May I open them?” “No. You don’t need them now.” St. Peter put a hand on her shoulder, guiding her toward the door.  “But if I don’t need them now, does that mean I needed them on earth?” She couldn’t take her eyes off the pile. He nodded his head. “Yes, you needed them on earth.”  She looked around the room, realizing that there must have been millions of gifts. Maybe more, since she couldn’t see an end to the room. “Why weren’t my gifts sent to me on earth?” As she looked closer, she could read names on all the gifts. “Not just my gifts; why haven’t any of these gifts been sent?”  St. Peter sighed. “You don’t understand. Every one of them was sent.” These are the ones that were returned unopened.” He moved her toward the door. “Many people on earth don’t recognize God’s gifts and fail to open them.”  Unfortunately, in real life God’s presents don’t always come brightly gift-wrapped, and they are not always easily recognized.  Often these gifts are people shaped.” 

     People enter our lives and become very important to us. These are the gifts we have chosen to open. These are the companions on life’s journey that make it worthwhile.   Life is fragile and unpredictable, cold and painful at times.  Sometimes those we love deeply are taken from us.  But the gift keeps on giving … in the form of memories, shared experiences and laughter.  Prayers go out to the family and friends of Josephine Roemmelt.  She was a gift to many, and don’t forget that those who mourn her loss were also a gift to her, enriching her life and making her smile.  Thanks to God for giving us companions on Earth,  and for assuring us that when this journey ends another awaits.