I have made the statement many times that a good joke is only as good as the person telling it.

We are fortunate to know one of the best joke tellers I have ever heard. Not only is he a good storyteller, Melvin is also a good friend. The following little story is his most recent that gave us a good laugh:

The story goes that living in a small town was a man no one knew. He was one of these fellows who was sort of a drifter.

The poor fellow died without anyone being aware of where he came from. The local undertaker knew there was a new preacher in the neighborhood, and he called and asked him to conduct final rites for this man. The preacher was more than glad to assist. He was told where the service would take place. But, as fate would have it, the preacher got lost on the way to the cemetery, and when he finally arrived, the burial service was already taking place.

Arriving on the scene, the preacher noticed the workers were already covering up the grave. The preacher insisted he go ahead and have the service, so he read some scripture and had a lengthy prayer. There were a lot of “Amens,” and as the preacher headed back to his automobile, he overheard one of the workers say: “I’ve been digging graves for 30 years, but I’ve never witnessed a service for a septic tank.”

As our family vacation comes to an end once again, I am reminded of the importance of family togetherness. As I made my trek to the beach after the cars were loaded, I remember wondering if there would be other family vacations in the future and just when the circle would be broken? I thought fondly of my mother.

Because of the times in which we grew up, family vacations were virtually unheard of. However, I can recall the times we sat in our old porch swing and my mother would share with us children the stories from the Old Testament. She always put emphasis on the promises of God. One of those that has stood out in my mind for many years comes from 2 Chronicles 7:14: “If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.”

God knows if ever there was a time our land needed healing, it’s now. When the going gets tough, I have learned to claim this promise in everything. Among my most treasured memories of life are the promises of God to all his people. I find as the years speed by that without God, I, too, would be drifting aimlessly in the sea of life.

If I live to be 100, I will never forget my mother instilling in my heart the things of life that keep us going.

Lest we forget ...

T&D Columnist Rinehart Chewning is a longtime resident of Holly Hill.

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