Heaven is for Real....

I love to read.  Unfortunately, I haven't had the time or energy lately to do much of it.

Until the other day when I took a trip to the bookstore to "look around".

I came home with a fabulous book, entitled "Heaven is for Real" by Todd Burpo.

It's a true story about a little boy who experiences a visit to heaven while in emergency surgery for an appendectomy.

The boy was 3 years old at the time of the surgery and little by little shares his experience with his parents.  His father is a pastor in a small community and his mother is a part time teacher.

In the beginning, he seems to just come up with some small comments that have the parents wondering where on earth the information is coming from.  The father puts it down to the attentive Sunday school teachers. 

Further on, as they begin to question the source of this information a little more, they are hard pressed to discount the information as authentic, as there are things he tells them that just couldn't have come from a Sunday school lesson or church sermon. 

He shares with them the way heaven looks, who is in heaven, what it feels like to be in heaven and in the presence of Jesus.  He even talks about deceased loved ones who welcomed him during his visit.

There are a few parts in the story that really touched me and yesterday had me in tears. 

Tears of joy though!

This book jumped out at me while walking through the book store.  I had never heard of it before (apparently it's been all over the tv, since I don't watch much tv I had no idea it existed) and thought it would be a cute read.

This book has come at a time when I have been wrestling with some guidance about the next steps in my life.  It is confirming for me all that I know in my heart to be true about this life and the life that awaits in "Heaven".

It's no accident that I stumbled upon it.

It's a great and easy read.  Something that can truly change your life if you allow the information into your heart.

I'll be sharing this book with others that I know who are struggling with loss.  This book gives hope to the grieving and those that fear death, that one day we will all meet again in the light and love of our God (or whatever you wish to call the divine creator) and forever be free from the pain and suffering we've endured in this lifetime.

Death....and stuff....

This morning as I lay dreaming in bed, I was awakened by the sound of my door bell.  Whether it was in my dream or whether it happened in real life, I knew that no one had been at my door at 7:30.  It only rang once and even though I didn't know what the meaning of that was particularly, I could sense with my entire body that it was a sign that a loved one was crossing over.
Cut to this afternoon.

I got a phone call announcing the passing of my Uncle who had been struggling with cancer.

This is of course upsetting news.  And of course I couldn't help but laugh!  Of course not at the fact that a death has occurred, more at the fact that I got to enjoy a visit this morning.  And of course I'm sure the person that was on the other end of the phone thinks I am nuts.

But this kind of thing has happened to me before....  Many times!

When my dad passed away (11 years ago tomorrow), I was in the hospital rocking my restless newborn in the rocking chair when all of a sudden baby snuggled deeply and peacefully into my arms and fell sound asleep, I also felt like I had been hugged warmly in that moment.  My dad.  Come to say good bye (or hello, whatever)!  I tell that story to my son all the time!  It's his favourite and only memory of his grandfather.

Skip to a few years later when my husbands grandmother is transitioning.  The lady with alzheimers in the bed across from her kept asking me what the fuss was about since there were so many people dressed up like there was a celebration going on.  It was only my husband and I with his grandmother at that moment.  She also mentioned the hometown of hubby's grandmother and asked me when the celebration was taking place.  Grandma passed away that same evening.

When my brother took his life, I could feel his presence around me and every question I had with regards to his life's end was answered as though he was standing in front of me having a conversation with me!

For at least a year after my husbands grandfather passed away I could feel him in the backseat of our car (which we purchased from grandma after his passing).

All of these things help me to believe in something beyond what we see with our physical human eyes.  I'm sorry if that makes me look cold and uncaring to some.  I will laugh when I feel like laughing when remembering a loved one (even if I am greeting friends in the receiving line) and I will cry when I feel like I miss them so much my heart will break open. 

But these situations have all helped me to believe that life is to be celebrated, not mourned (although go ahead and mourn if that is what pleases you).  They have helped me to find peace in an unpeaceful time.

My Uncle showed me that you can live life with happiness and joy despite the fact that you are being handed a pink slip!

And that is a life worth celebrating!