A fellow I used to work with years ago is always sending me stories and jokes that he thinks would make good sermon illustrations. But I haven't found any that I thought would be suitable. Here's an example:
An elderly man was dying in his bed. In death's agony, he suddenly smelled the aroma of his favorite chocolate chip cookies wafting up the stairs.
He gathered his remaining strength and lifted himself up out of bed. He slowly made his way out of the bedroom and down the stairs, gripping the railing with both hands. With labored breath he leaned against the door frame, gazing into the kitchen.
Were it not for death's agony, he would have thought himself already in heaven: there, spread out upon newspapers on the kitchen table were literally hundreds of his favorite chocolate chip cookies. Was it heaven or was it one final act of heroic love from his devoted wife, seeing to it that he left his world a happy man? Mustering one great final effort, he threw himself toward the table, landing on his knees in a rumpled posture.
He reached out to the edge of the table and took one of the cookies, bursting with dozens of chocolate chips. A glass of cold milk would have made this would have made this moment perfect, but the old man couldn't wait. His parched lips parted; the wondrous taste of the cookie was already in his mouth, seemingly bringing him back to life. The aged and withered hand was bringing the cooking to his mouth when suddenly it was smacked with a spatula by his wife.
"Stay out of those," she said, "they're for the funeral!"
