Heaven’s Grocery Store

As I was walking down life’s highway
Many years ago
I came upon a sign that read
Heaven’s Grocery Store.

When I got a little closer
The doors swung open wide
And when I came to myself
I was standing inside.

I saw a host of angels.
They were standing everywhere
One handed me a basket and said
“My child, shop with care.”

Everything a human needed
Was in that grocery store
And what you could not carry
You could come back for more.

First I got some Patience.
Love was in that same row.
Further down was Understanding,
You need that everywhere you go.

I got a box or two of Wisdom
And Faith a bag or two.
And Charity, of course,
I would need some of that, too.

I couldn’t miss the Holy Ghost
It was all over the place.
And then some Strength and Courage
To help me run this race.

My basket was getting full but I remembered I needed Grace,
And then I chose Salvation for Salvation was for free
I tried to get enough of that
To do for you and me.

Then I started to the counter
To pay my grocery bill,
For I thought I had everything
To do the Masters will.

As I went up the aisle I saw
Prayer and put that in,
For I knew when I stepped outside
I would run into sin.

Peace and Joy were plentiful,
The last things on the shelf.
Song and Praise were hanging near
So I just helped myself.

Then I said to the angel
“How much do I owe?”
He smiled and said
“Just take them everywhere you go.”

Again I asked “Really now,
How much do I owe?”
“My child” he said,
“God paid your bill a long, long time ago”

— Author Unknown