Father Michael had faithfully served the same little church for forty years.<\/p>\n
He baptized babies.<\/p>\n
Married young couples.<\/p>\n
Comforted grieving families.<\/p>\n
And never missed a Sunday sermon.<\/p>\n
One night, after a long day, he fell asleep in his favorite chair.<\/p>\n
That’s when the dream began.<\/p>\n
He found himself standing before the magnificent gates of Heaven.<\/p>\n
Everything shimmered with golden light.<\/p>\n
Clouds floated peacefully.<\/p>\n
Angels sang beautiful hymns.<\/p>\n
Then St. Peter appeared with a huge smile.<\/p>\n
“Welcome, Father Michael!”<\/p>\n
Father Michael bowed respectfully.<\/p>\n
“It’s an honor.”<\/p>\n
St. Peter laughed.<\/p>\n
“Today is your reward.”<\/p>\n
The enormous pearly gates slowly opened.<\/p>\n
Standing just inside was Sister Angela…<\/p>\n
The young, beautiful nun from Father Michael’s own church.<\/p>\n
She wore a brilliant white gown that sparkled like sunlight.<\/p>\n
Father Michael blinked.<\/p>\n
“Angela?”<\/p>\n
She smiled warmly.<\/p>\n
“Hello, Father.”<\/p>\n
Father Michael looked completely confused.<\/p>\n
“What are you doing here?”<\/p>\n
She smiled even wider.<\/p>\n
“I’m your reward.”<\/p>\n
Father Michael nearly fainted.<\/p>\n
“My… my reward?”<\/p>\n
St. Peter nodded enthusiastically.<\/p>\n
“That’s right.”<\/p>\n
Father Michael’s eyes grew as wide as saucers.<\/p>\n
“I’ve spent forty years resisting temptation!”<\/p>\n
St. Peter chuckled.<\/p>\n
“Exactly.”<\/p>\n
Father Michael slowly turned toward Sister Angela.<\/p>\n
She stepped closer.<\/p>\n
“So…”<\/p>\n
he whispered,<\/p>\n
“What happens now?”<\/p>\n
Before either of them could answer…<\/p>\n
A booming voice echoed across Heaven.<\/p>\n
“WAIT!”<\/p>\n
Another angel came running with a giant clipboard.<\/p>\n
He was completely out of breath.<\/p>\n
“St. Peter! You mixed up the files again!”<\/p>\n
St. Peter frowned.<\/p>\n
“I did?”<\/p>\n
The angel pointed at the paperwork.<\/p>\n
“Father Michael isn’t Sister Angela’s reward…”<\/p>\n
He flipped the page.<\/p>\n
“…She’s his assignment.”<\/p>\n
Father Michael sighed in relief.<\/p>\n
Then the angel continued.<\/p>\n
“And Father…”<\/p>\n
“Yes?”<\/p>\n
“You…”<\/p>\n
he smiled,<\/p>\n
“…are Sister Angela’s reward.”<\/p>\n
Father Michael froze.<\/p>\n
Sister Angela burst out laughing.<\/p>\n
St. Peter grinned.<\/p>\n
Then the angel looked at Father Michael and said,<\/p>\n
“Relax, Father.”<\/p>\n
“In Heaven, everyone finally gets exactly what they prayed for.”<\/p>\n
Father Michael smiled.<\/p>\n
Then woke up laughing so hard…<\/p>\n
He accidentally slept through morning Mass.<\/p>\n
When the congregation asked why he was late, he simply smiled and said,<\/p>\n
“I had the strangest dream of my life…”<\/p>\n
And he wisely decided to keep the rest to himself.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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