Welcome Home

We’ve had several deaths recently, some quite sudden. Many of them have been very hard on us. Here are some thoughts I’ve borrowed from Fred Craddock.

Take a piece of paper, write down these words: “I thank my God for all remembrance of you”. Write a name. You choose the name. You remember the name. Write another name, and another name and another. Write as many names on it as you want. Keep the list, because to you it’s not a list at all. Next time you move, keep that and take it with you. Even if you have to leave your car behind, your library and your furniture and your computer and everything else, keep that with you.

In fact, when your earthly life is over, take it with you. I know, I know. When you get to the gate, St. Peter’s going to say, “Now look, you came into the world with nothing, you’ve got to come out of it with nothing. Now what’ve you got?” And you’ll say, “Well, it’s just some names.” “Well, let me see it”, says St. Peter. “Well, it’s just some names of folks who meant something to me.” “Just let me see it.”

“This is just a group of people that, if it weren’t for them, my life wouldn’t be the same. It’s a group of folks that I really treasured”.

St. Peter will still say, “I want to see it!” And then you’ll give it to him, and he’ll get this big smile and say, “I know all of them. In fact, on my way here to this gate I passed a group. They were painting a huge sign to hang over the street. And it said, ‘Welcome Home’”.

I have a list and it has all of your names on it. You are the folks that have meant something very special to me these past five years and I really treasure you! When I get to St. Peter’s gate, I really do look forward to seeing you and having a big “Welcome Home” sign waiting for me!!!

May God bless you and all those you love,