Random Thoughts

Joke of the Week

Thanks to Tom of Pasadena, California

Raoul’s 2 cents

Legacy Shells

If you don’t want to ponder, move on to the Jokes below.

A dear friend of mine sends me verses every day. This morning, he sent me a poem he wrote about grace and peace which created an image in my mind of a shell in a calm sandy beach. I was transported to my carefree childhood summer vacation — lying down on my stomach along the sandy beach, surrounded by an assortment of smoothly eroded, broken, white and pink, perforated, corals and shells. As the lapping waves pushed one shell to shore, I wondered what happened to the creature that lived in that shell. Was it eaten by some sea monster? Did it die of old age? Now, nothing’s left of the soft slimy muscle tissue of this mollusk … only the beautiful fossilized home of the snail remains as a testament that it once slithered on the ocean floor. To think that each of these other shells has a story to tell.

Most shells are tossed away because they are broken. Tiny uninteresting skeletal remains are strewn all over this coral cemetery by the sea. But the few unbroken gorgeous works of natural art that make it ashore are grabbed by collectors who display them in prominent home mantels for their beauty to be appreciated for generations.

Human shells
Aren’t our bones so similar to sea shells? Some extraordinary people transform into rooks, bishops and queens. These special ones are buried in tombs of gold in honorable display. But most of us remain as pawns in the chess game of life and our bones and ashes return to earth … remembered for a generation or two and then slowly fade away. Nothing wrong with that.

Ever wonder about your legacy? What on earth will they say in your funeral?

“Here lies Father … I guess that’s it for your Dad Jokes.”

“Goodbye Mom … your secret recipe dies with you — probably the best!”

“Goodbye dear friend. You left us too early. Next time, when the sign says ‘DO NOT TOUCH’ — do not touch!”

“Hey honey, I knew you wanted me to publish your precious poetry but I spilled coffee on the manuscript and the dog ate it … well at least the dog thought it tasted good!”

Would you want your bones preserved in “honorable display?” Not me. My wife hates it when I tell her not to spend on my funeral. “Just flush my ashes down the toilet,” I tell her, “I don’t really care. My body is just a shell.” I can just imagine my funeral scene. It’ll be great! A throng of visitors will be packed like sardines in this dinky little bathroom. “Alas poor Raoul, had it not been for his insomnia, he should have died peacefully in his sleep … instead, he died in excruciating agony with his eyes wide open.” FLUSH!

But I know my wife … she’s going to defy my orders and do something elaborate and decent. People will be forced to say good things about me so don’t believe anything they say. Honestly, I’d be happy if they simply said “Raoul loved God, loved his family and loved people. He was a follower of Christ. Well done, good and faithful servant.”

This Friday, my wife and I will be attending a funeral for the man who gave my wife her dream job. He was a slick dresser so I will honor him by wearing a suit. Sadly, I remember a brilliant businessman who was so stubborn and proud that he hurt so many people. He was looking for his family at his deathbed but only one son attended his funeral. The others refused to come.

If you were to die today, what legacy will you leave behind? What kind of shell will you be? Breakable or collectible? Forgotten or remembered? Are people surrounding you only for your money? Have you enriched the lives of others? Or do you have a lot of catching up to do? Well, what are you waiting for?

TGIF people!

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Quotes of the week

“He always said he’d rather be late than never show up – except this time.” — Anonymous

“She claimed she’d never be caught dead in a dress – well, here we are.” — Anonymous

“Her last words were ‘Delete my browser history.'” — Anonymous

“He believed in living life like a roller coaster – lots of ups, downs, and occasional screaming.” — Anonymous

“She wanted us to remember her as she lived – slightly inappropriate and usually laughing.” — Anonymous

“And the Lord said to Jehu, ‘Because you have done well in doing what is right in My sight, and have done to the house of Ahab all that was in My heart, your sons shall sit on the throne of Israel to the fourth generation.'” — 2 Kings 10:30

“Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, ‘Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.’” — Hebrews 13:5

“As for the bones of Joseph, which the people of Israel brought up from Egypt, they buried them at Shechem, in the piece of land that Jacob bought from the sons of Hamor the father of Shechem for a hundred pieces of money. It became an inheritance of the descendants of Joseph.” — Joshua 24:32

Memes of the Week

Thanks to James of Los Angeles, CA

Thanks to Art of Sierra Madre, CA

Thanks to Barbara of Pasadena. CA

Thanks to Tom of Pasadena, CA

Thanks to Jacob of Whittier, CA

Thanks to Norm of Encino, CA

I found these

My good friend (and jokester) Terry and I came up with these:

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