Three decades ago my brother Mike and I traveled from California to Pennsylvania for a 50th anniversary celebration for our aunt and uncle. On the trip, Mike took his two daughters, 8 and 6, and I took my youngest child Dan who was 10. We traveled in Mike’s RV. The trip took 10 days and we visited many states and sites along the way.
It was hot and muggy when we arrived in Western Pennsylvania in July. We parked the RV alongside this house that had been like home to us in our childhood. My aunt insisted that I sleep in the house, relegating Mike and the kids to sleep in the RV. I told her I was fine staying in the RV, but she kept insisting that she had a room all prepared for me upstairs. I gave in to her wishes.
I soon discovered that the upstairs of the house had no air conditioning and that the bedroom window had been secured so it could only be raised about two inches. As I lay gasping in the heat, I could hear the air conditioner on the RV whining away below me. I pictured my brother and the kids comfortable and cool. My thoughts in that moment were not happy thoughts!
In the morning, my aunt said that a thunderstorm had blown through in the middle of the night and cooled things off. I certainly didn’t feel any cooling. I asked her if she was sure about that. She said, “Oh, yes it definitely cooled off. We have the heater set at 72o and it kicked on around 2 AM.”
I laugh now; I didn’t laugh then. “A merry heart does good, like medicine.” [Proverbs 17:22 NKJV]
Father, how I look forward to seeing those ones who have been so dear to me who are now in Your presence. I want to laugh again with them. Amen.
