WHAT A TRIP

And if I go and prepare a

place for you, I will come again

and receive you to Myself;

that where I am, there you

may be also.

John 14:3

Brian was so good in planning family trips from A to Z. First, we knew where we were going. For many years, that was not a decision that had to be made on the spot. Our children pretty much knew that our destination would be somewhere in the Smoky Mountain National Park. But all the other details still had to be taken care of.

Brian always had a time to depart from the house....usually 6:00 AM if not earlier. We knew we would stop for breakfast at a certain city. Driving on eastward, we knew where we would stop for the evening. He knew the eating places and most things between the house and the mountains. On my end, I saw to the washing and packing of clothes, snacks for the car and things to entertain children during the trip. If they had been available, there would never be a computer or I pad in the hands of our children so other things sufficed.

We all knew about the place we were going. In the beginning, booklets and ads were read that would interest us in certain areas of the national park to search out. Through the years, those places came to be very familiar to all of us. Some of the same places became of more interest and physical ability friendly as children grew. Through those years, so much became lovingly familiar to each of us. Even when Brian and I retired to this area, we recalled trips, streams and the unhurried atmosphere of this place.

I love the book of John and often feast on chapters 14-17. I have often referred to these chapters as “Jesus' Famous Last Words.” What He teaches are by far not last words by any means. But right up front, Jesus promises that a trip is in our futures. He went back to Heaven to get things ready for us. Brian didn't have to plan at thing for his trip to Heaven. He had a personal Escort to take him there and show him around. Our info regarding Heaven is limited, but can see many reasons for God's limitation in that area. For each of us, He doesn't want us to be so heavenly minded that we are no earthly good. Jesus said He'll return and take us unto Himself. This won't be just an ordinary venture. It will be more that we can ever imagine. The Smoky Mountains will fade into nothingness compared to our final destination.

Father, thank You for Your every provision for us as we live our lives here, Thank You for Jesus Who came and left to prepare a place for those of us who are in sweetrelationship with You. We look forward to our trips even though we don't have a time line to go by. Come Lord Jesus...Amen