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Tuesday, March 11, 2008

Burial Suits Don't Have Pockets

"Store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." Matthew 6:20 NIV

Did you know burial suits don’t have pockets? Morticians use burial suits for deceased who don’t arrive with suits of their own. A pastor read this information in a recent article. The thought was so new to him that he called a neighboring cemetery. After introducing himself to the person who answered the phone he asked, “Do your burial suits have pockets?”

“I don’t know,” she said and she forwarded the call. The question went through the whole facility. Finally, the pastor thought his phone call ended up in the room where they clothe the deceased. He overheard someone ask, “Do the burial suits have pockets?” and from a distance he heard an authoritative voice say, “No, burial suits do not have pockets.” I happened to think that the deceased ladies don’t have purses either!

Pockets and purses are for important things like cell phones, driver’s license, ATM cards and credit cards. Last week I saw my boss pull a wad of one hundred dollar bills from his pocket. Since I rarely carry cash, the sight of that much money shocked me. If we lost the things we carry in our pockets, we would most likely feel helpless or even victimized. But when we arrive at the cemetery the last time, what we have in our pockets won’t mean anything anymore.

The things that will have a lasting impact are the things we did for others when we were alive. Were we faithful, generous, helpful, inspiring or encouraging? Will we have books or songs to our credit? Did we make a difference in our family, community or world? Will people remember we loved them?

Father God, I pray that you finish the work you have started in us. Help us know what is really important, that we might be beacons of your light and love in our world.

2 comments:

ElizabethMThompson said...

Great reminder, Sue! We will be traveling light on our final journey.

Gratefully,

Beth

Joanne@ Blessed... said...

I loved this Sue...it reminds me of a saying I like to tell my children sometimes, "You never see a hearse pulling a U-Haul."

HUGS!

Joanne