One of the most terrifying, yet ultimately funny, things happened as we arrived at the airport early one morning in Louisville, Kentucky, last January—final destination San Juan, Puerto Rico. Jim pulled the suitcases from the trunk of the car and my daughter, Chelsea (who’d driven us to the airport), set my suitcase on the sidewalk outside the curbside check-in. She gave me a funny look and said, “Wow, Mom! You sure are traveling light.”
Those words struck sudden fear in my heart. I eyed the suitcase and quickly unzipped it enough to see that it was empty. Jim had grabbed the wrong suitcase! Thankfully, the Lord has blessed me with a calm head during situations when others might panic. I immediately snapped into emergency response mode. Bless her heart, our dutiful daughter raced home in the pre-dawn hours to fetch the packed suitcase while we went inside and checked in for the flight. Long story short, she made it back to the airport (we live about 20 minutes away) with 
a narrow window of time to spare. Whew! Crisis averted. The photos shown here are of the beautiful, historic Old Town in San Juan. 
By the time you read this, it will be a few days before my husband, Jim, and I head out of town for another cruise (a Valentine’s Cruise!). Now that the kids are older, this will be the third year in a row we’re taking a trip to a tropical destination during the colder winter months. I know one thing we’ll be taking on this upcoming cruise—bug repellent! We’re going into Mexico and Honduras, two countries hard hit w
ith this new virus caused by insect bites. Yikes! I’d appreciate your prayers for safety and good health.
In the grand scheme of life, the empty suitcase wasn’t really a true crisis. I recently began to think about that empty suitcase as a metaphor for my life. When I arrive at my final destination of Heaven and stand before my Heavenly Father at those so-called pearly gates, I want my suitcase to be filled, not empty. In fact, I 
want it to be brimming—stuffed full to the point where it’s bursting at the seams and spilling out onto those streets paved with gold. Just for fun, mind you, as a hypothetical…what would I want in my suitcase? Let’s examine that idea. Note these are in no particular order and they only touch the surface…
*Personal mementos and photographs. Memories of children, parents, grandchild(ren), and other family members. A favorite photo of our kids in a casual pose that reveals their distinct personalities. A favorite early photo of our first grandbaby, Amelia. The self-portrait my father drew in pencil when he 
was a young boy that revealed untapped talent. A section of the roof of a long-gone dollhouse my dad and grandmother made for me. The smiley face pendant I wore for a year straight. The piece of a quilt I loved and called “Quiltie Ann” that my grandmother Ella made for me (shown in the photo, below right; well-loved, it has survived for over 50 years!). My Certificate of Baptism. My marriage certificate, our three kids’ birth certificates. The first Bible I ever truly read from cover to cover, given to me by a young, caring man named Jim Durgin (the inspiration behind Seth Barnes giving Caroline 
Prescott a Bible in Heart’s Design). A copy of Awakening, my debut novel and “book of my heart” since it’s very loosely based on my love story with Jim, the first of what would become my life’s ministry in writing Christian fiction. The letter I just received 
inviting our son, Matthew (diagnosed with Asperger’s Syndrome), to join Phi Theta Kappa because of his “outstanding academic achievement.” A photo of my mother and me at a recent book-signing event where she proudly hawked my books to many of her friends. My report card with straight As from my what I call the “best quarter I ever spent in college”—my time spent abroad studying in London followed by a fabulous three-week tour of the European Continent.
*Memories and sweet remembrances of special times and occasions spent with dear friends. The memory of walking forward during an altar call at church camp when I was 13 and asking the Lord to live in my heart and be my personal Savior. Going to the Broadway stage play Private Lives with Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor with my mother, my best friend, and her mother. Winning a bowling trophy during an overnight youth group event, the only trophy I ever won (I was a cheerleader but that was the extent of my so-called athletic pursuits). Bible studies with friends when I lived in Dallas, California, Philadelphia, and Boston (one such study was instrumental in bringing Jim and me together in a roundabout way, yet another post for another day). Concerts, the ballet, the orchestra, and other Broadway productions. Walking the streets and touring the beautiful countryside in Switzerland, Germany, and France. Marveling at the Mona Lisa, watching the street artists work along the River Seine and Sacre Coeur, and staring in wonder at the Sistine Chapel in the Vatican in Rome, Italy.
*Music—one of the great loves of my life. Music can make my heart soar, and I’ve spent many hours listening to music of all varieties as I write. As I have grown older, I appreciate classical music, especially sweeping orchestral arrangements. Of course, not much can compare to great hymns of the faith and I have my favorites (that list alone could fill an entire post all on its own). When I write, I love to listen to Michael W. Smith’s instrumental CDs because they have inspired many scenes in my Lewis Legacy Series. Ditto a CD of Steven Curtis Chapman’s greatest hits for the same reason. Here is a random sampling of a few of the songs which always bring a smile to my lips and why:
*“Sail into September” by Earth, Wind & Fire because it was playing in a store in Venice, Italy, during the siesta.
*“Chances Are” by Johnny Mathis because of the many nights I fell asleep listening to his songs the next bedroom over from my single mother.
*“Looks Like We Made It” by Barry Manilow; “Puppy Love” by Donny Osmond; “We’ve Only Just Begun” by The Carpenters; “Celebrate Me Home” and “This Is It” from Kenny Loggins, and pretty much anything by the Bee Gees because those songs and groups represent my youthful optimism.
The best thing about Heaven is that there will be no anger, no sadness, no pain. Life is about making memories while we’re here for this short time on earth, and that includes our regrets, mistakes, and triumphs. The point is to learn and grow from our mistakes so that we eventually come to a greater understanding and appreciation of this great journey the Lord has given to us. What we make of our time here is up to each one of us. We are constantly being refined.
Ultimately, I don’t want my suitcase to be empty with regrets, mistakes, and loneliness. I’m working every day to fill that suitcase with love, laughter, family, and the blessings of working in service for the Lord. Evidence of a life well-lived.
I would encourage you to think about what special gifts you can bring to the King. What about you? Feel free to share what you’d like to put in your suitcase.
Blessings, friends! Until Next Time,
JoAnn
Matthew 5:16
USA Today bestselling author JoAnn Durgin is the author of over twenty novels since her debut, Awakening (Lewis Legacy Book 1), released in late 2010. Her books include the beloved Lewis Legacy Series, as well as its prequel, Prelude. She is also the author of Catching Serenity, Heart's Design, and Gentle Like the Rain, a sequel to Heart's Design. Other novels include Echoes of Edinburgh, The Wondrous Love Series, Perchance to Dream, and the popular Starlight Christmas Series. Her latest release is The Christmas Challenge and coming up next is Pursuit, the highly anticipated Book 8 in The Lewis Legacy Series. JoAnn lives with her family in her native southern Indiana and now enjoys writing full-time and spending time with her first granddaughter, Amelia Grace. Sharing the hope and joy to be found in a relationship with Christ is her passion, and JoAnn adores writing and reading Christian romance. She loves to hear from her readers via her website or her Author JoAnn Durgin page on FB!
I’d like my suitcase to contain many of the things you mentioned, JoAnn, but evidence of a life well-lived and one that honored God would be the most important. I’d also like to pack an extra bag full of memories for my sweet mother, whose memories are fading each day.
Have a wonderful and safe trip!
Thanks, as always, for your comment, Jill. My mother lives with us, and she lost a very dear friend (same age as my mother) just yesterday, and quite unexpectedly. I’m sorry your mother’s memories are fading, and I know how difficult that must be for you. But I know you’re also thankful for the sweet memories you have of time spent with her through the years, and that’s such a blessing.
Yes, I am, JoAnn. I’m so sorry to hear about your mother’s friend. My thoughts and prayers are with her.
Great post and perspective JoAnn. I think I might need to repack. :)
Wonderful post, JoAnn! I’d like my suitcase to be full of all kinds of memories, even the hard times, because God brought me through each one.
Have a fantastic, safe trip, my friend, and bring back many more happy memories!
True enough, Kathleen (about the hard times). That would fill up a suitcase all its own, I’m afraid. But those hard times are just as valuable (or invaluable) in the long run, aren’t they, for teaching us about God’s grace? Blessings, my friend.
Thank you for visiting Inspy Romance today and for your comment, Cindi! I need to start packing tonight, and I’m going to keep all this in mind (and make sure the right suitcase gets to the airport this time!). Blessings to you.
What a beautiful visual, JoAnn! And the beauty is that our eternal suitcase doesn’t have hard edges, but is more the expandable kind where we can keep adding things… and don’t have to pay if it’s overweight! Although precious memories don’t weigh much.
I love the visual of the suitcase. Taking the wrong suitcase does sound like something my husband and I would do. haha! In my eternal suitcase, I would love to take all the wonderful memories in my life. I know that when I get to Heaven, I won’t remember any of the bad things, only the precious memories that God has given me to enjoy. :-)
Wow, I can only imagine the panic I would feel with that empty suitcase! Good thing you’re clearheaded in a crisis. I like your image of the eternal suitcase. That’s my food for thought this day. Thank you!
Lovely post, JoAnn. :) I can just imagine your face when you realized you had the wrong suitcase.
You’re definitely filling your suitcase with wonderful and beautiful things! Your post made me think that sometimes I drag around heavy things like worry and fear and I should be putting more great things in my suitcase like you do. Thank you for a great post, and have a safe trip!
Love it, Val! Thank you for that reminder, too. I’m always afraid my suitcase will be overweight, as a matter of fact. And you’re exactly right in that precious memories weigh nothing but stay with us always. Hugs to you, my friend.
Amen, Melissa! I’m thankful for those precious memories in my suitcase, as I know YOU are, too. Blessings to you, and thank you for your faithfulness to the authors here at Inspy Romance!
You’re welcome, Lee! I did panic for a few seconds, but then I went right into “Little General” mode. LOL. When Chelsea was a newborn, the first outing without her (which was only supposed to be a few minutes), ended up with me taking Sarah to the ER for stitches in her forehead (she ran into a metal bar at the store). The manager of the store told me a year or so later than she always remembered for staying so calm when other mothers fell apart at something much less serious. You just do what you’ve gotta do, you know? Thanks for leaving a comment. Congrats on your bestseller status! Blessings. :-)
Yes, I’m sure Chelsea could blackmail me with a photo if she’d gotten one. Good thing she didn’t. LOL. :) Thanks for the comment, my friend!
Thank you so much for stopping by Inspy Romance today, Alexa! I hadn’t even thought of the analogy of the empty suitcase until recently, but I thought it would make a good topic to explore. And, I have my share of worry, but I’m learning to let go and give it to the Lord. He knows my burdens and I can’t allow worry and fear to take control. Blessings to you, my sweet friend. :)
That was beautiful post Jo Ann.I am honored to know you.
I love the idea of the suitcases.
I have hat boxes.
Love the hat box idea, Linda! I’ve seen some lovely hat boxes (on the outside), and I can just imagine what you can fill it with, my friend. :) Blessings, and thanks for stopping by the blog today, as always.
Like you I’d like to take a lot of the of similar things. I love music, but believe that the music in heaven will be so awesome that it will cause the music here to fade in our minds. Of course, I suppose one of the things I’d really like to put in my suitcase are the books I wanted to read down here, but never found the time! There are more good, godly books which I can’t keep up with them.
My heart goes out to your Mother in the loss of her good friend. I know God’s grace will help her through it, but also know it is so difficult/painful to be there. I am going to pray for her right away.
All of your books are such a blessing JoAnn! God is really using your wonderful stories for his glory!
Faith, I’m sure the music in Heaven will be glorious! My husband believes I will be able to write my books in Heaven (not sure how that will work, but I really LOVE that idea!), so hopefully we can also read to our heart’s content of godly, wonderful books. Thank you for your prayers for my mother in the loss of her good friend. She’s lost a number of friends in the past year, and this one came unexpectedly, and hit her especially hard. Thank you for your very kind compliments about my books! I praise the Lord for you and other faithful readers who can appreciate the “meat” I put into each of my characters and their stories. I’ll be in Jacksonville again in early May, btw, for my nephews’ graduation from Trinity Baptist. Meet you at the IHOP? :) Blessings.
I love that idea too and hope we will.
I don’t think we will be able to bring anything with us from this world. Nice idea though.
I agree that we won’t, Sunflower, and that’s why I said “for fun” and that it’s a hypothetical. More the idea of living our life to the fullest here on earth. Thanks for visiting Inspy Romance and for leaving a comment! Blessings.