Eleven Months

Michael in Hong Kong

Another month has passed. Another month closer to a sweet reunion.

While perusing a copy of People magazine last week, I came across a book review for Heaven is for Real, by Todd Burpo. It's the retelling of a little boy's visit to Heaven during an appendectomy. Some of the things the review mentioned were really compelling to me and I had to order a copy of the book for myself.

I have been very careful to only read things about Heaven that are in alignment with what scripture says. There are a lot of books on the market about near-death experiences, but I'm skeptical about a lot of them. I found Colton's story to be compatible with what the Bible says about Heaven.

Some of the things that struck me were that he met his sister - a sister he didn't know he had. His mother had experienced a miscarriage several years before, but Colton did not know that. He also met his great-grandfather who had died nearly thirty years before Colton's lifetime. The thing I took away from that is that our Earthly family ties are still very important in Heaven. For those of us who have lost a family member, or spouse, that is incredibly comforting to know.

He also had some wonderful things to say about the throne room of God. The incredible colors displayed there. He described Jesus as having "markers". When his dad asked him more about that, Colton pointed to the palms of his hands and the tops of his feet. He said Jesus loves the children, and that Colton sat on Jesus' lap and He was his teacher. He said there are many children in Heaven, and lots of grown-ups, but no old people. Colton also said Heaven has all kinds of animals.

Colton's account includes many more incredible, Biblically appropriate details, and the amazing thing is that he was not quite four years old when he had this experience. I was moved to tears several times as I read his childlike but poignant descriptions of my final destination. I can't tell you how emotional and how comforting it is to imagine Michael in that place and most likely all the children we conceived via IVF - all eight of them! How I long to be there with them - in the Lord's timing, of course.

I feel like in these eleven months of living without the person I love the most, the Lord has revealed so much to me about Heaven, and that He has given me an understanding of Biblical prophecy through a lot of study. That knowledge has given me such comfort and hope. It sustains me while I wait, and I do believe that Heaven is close.

Assuredly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will by no means enter it. ~ Mark 10:15