"When life is sweet, say thank you and celebrate.
And when life is bitter, say thank you and grow."
- Shauna Niequist
There are many tales about St. Peter and the Pearly Gates.
According to one popular story, for centuries St. Peter consulted a huge book that contains the life
story of each arrival and everyone who ever lived. Kind of like Santa, he checked each record to see if a person had been mostly naughty or mostly nice.
It's now believed that all the data is on a cloud; St. Peter finds what he
needs on his laptop; and, using print-on-demand, he publishes a one-of-a- kind scrapbook for each person's life story.
With scrapbook in hand, the new arrival and St. Pete decide together if the deceased has had enough life lessons and ah-ha awakenings in Earth School.
Has your heart been broken? Ego deflated? Fallen on your face while making a mistake?
How often have you laughed, cried, and watched the sunrise and
sighed?
Ever plant a tree? Been stung by a bee? Broken a bone? Lost your home?
Our possible experiences and adventures are endless. Highs and lows. Wonders and woes.
That's how human life is. So, while we are here, let's embrace our experiences and be of good cheer. As Shauna Niequist said:
"When life is sweet, say thank you and celebrate.
And when life is bitter, say thank you and grow."
Also, be kind to all. Humans and animals. Every living thing suffers at times.
Let's live well.
With love, laughter, hope, and joy,
Charlene
PS - It's rumored that some souls are sent back for more human experiences, with no memory of meeting St. Peter at the Pearly Gates.
