I once read a story about a woman who went to heaven and inquired of St. Peter if she might come in. "Well", he said, "I will look it over and see whether you are entitled to come in or not." In a few minutes he came back and said: "You may come in, and if you will wait here briefly I will show you your home in heaven." She waited until he came and then they walked down the path of heaven until they came to a beautiful little cottage all covered over with flowers. And she smiled and said, "Oh, this is my home."
"Why, no, this is not yours." "To whom does this belong?" "It belongs to the man who used to be gardener for you on earth." Well, she thought that was very nice for him; and they went on. Then they came to a larger house, beautifully painted, ornamented. And she said: "Oh, I see; this is mine. That was right for the gardener; but this is mine." "No, this is not yours." "To whom does this belong?" "Why, this belongs to the little, old widow lady that used to live round the corner from you; and she had a lot of children and she used to take in washing to support them. Do you remember?" "Yes." Then they went on and on and heaven began to look plainer and less attractive, until finally they came to a house very plain and uninviting, and then St. Peter stopped and said, "Now, madam, this is your home." "What, this? No, no --- impossible. Why, think of my life, of what I have been on earth. Oh, no, it can't be!" And she continued until finally the tumult ceased and St. Peter said to her: "Madam, you cannot possibly regret so much as we in heaven do that you have no more beautiful home here. But, madam, we did the best we could for you with the materials you furnished us." From: Edward Kimball. Lectures and Articles on Christian Science. Indiana 1921, p. 313-314. Comments are closed.
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