You Can't Take It With You
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There once was a rich man who was dying. While on his death
bed, he tried to negotiate with God to have God allow him to bring his
earthly treasures with him to heaven.
"God, please, I have worked so hard to accumulate all these riches.
Can't I bring them along?"
"This is very unusual," said God, "but since you have been such a faithful steward, I will allow you to bring one suitcase."
The man immediately had a servant fill a large suitcase with gold bricks. Shortly thereafter, he died. When he arrived at the pearly gates, he was stopped by St. Peter.
"I'm sorry sir, but you know the rule -- 'you can't take it with you.' You may enter, but the suitcase has to stay outside."
"But God told me I could bring one suitcase," the man protested.
"Well, if God says it's O.K. -- but I still need to examine the contents before you enter."
St. Peter took the suitcase from the man and opened it. Looking very puzzled, he couldn't understand why the man had brought gold bricks.
St. Peter turned to another angel and broke out in a laughter. The rich man was very puzzled on why St. Peter was laughing as he just stared at the gold bricks.
The other angel was confused as well on why St. Peter was laughing so much, but when he finally looked into the suitcase, he too began to laugh.
Finally, as the two angels were able to gain control of themselves from
their laughter, they spoke together in one voice asking, "Why did
you bring pavement to heaven?"