The wolf will live with the lamb, the leopard will lie down with the goat, the calf and the lion and the yearling together; and a little child will lead them. Isaiah 11:6
Like the appearance of a rainbow in the clouds on a rainy day, so
was the radiance around him. This was the appearance of the likeness of
the glory of the LORD. When I saw it, I fell facedown, and I heard the
voice of one speaking. Ezekiel 1:28
Tonight, I am in tears.
No - not tears of pain, tears of joy and awe and wonder.
I just finished reading a book. It wasn't even a book I really wanted to read. There is a bit of history as to how that came to be. The pastor of the church I used to be able to attend spoke about this book one Sunday. My son's mother-in-law decided to read the book. She gave the book to my daughter-in-law. My daughter-in-law gave the book to my son. My son gave the book to me.
It sat for a while before I picked it up to read it.
To be honest, I started reading the book simply to appease him. Over and over, he would ask, "Have you read it yet? I want to talk to you about it after you have."
Today, he came in and told me he had a rainbow story to tell me. Would I read the book. Then we could talk about "his" rainbow.
It's an easy read. He said I wouldn't be able to put it down until I was done. He was right.
I was in tears by the end of the book. Things that never made sense to me before, make sense because of the story of a four-year-old boy who saw heaven.
A true story.
I haven't the time or space to recount that whole story here. If you are able, I'd encourage you to read this book yourself. "Heaven is for Real" by Todd Burpo.
For those of us with chronic illnesses - sometimes terminal ones - this book will touch a part of you that might not be touched in any other way.
You see, I know this little boy's experiences are real. Things that happened after the death of my daughter now make sense. Rainbows make sense. God makes more sense to me now than ever before.
From the story of a four-year-old boy, whose life is a miracle.
I now feel compelled - led - to finish writing the story of my daughter. The time wasn't right before. What I have been enduring makes sense.
I realize this may be a confusing post for someone who has not read the book. But if you have, you will understand the wonder of my son - who after reading the book, asked God to give him a rainbow. When my daughter died, he asked why God never gave him a rainbow as he did me. After reading this book, he chose to ask again.
Today, God gave him that rainbow - in a completely unexpected way.
And as for me? I had been online reading a favorite blog before I started reading this book. As I opened up my computer to post to the blog, I opened to that blog page staring at me.
The title of the blog post?
"When You Are Waiting for a Message from God."
That book was my message from God. It might be yours as well.
Father God, thank you for the amazing ways you manifest yourself, your love, your glory and wonder. I pray for each person reading this blog (yes, *you* dear one), that they may know beyond a shadow of a doubt that "Heaven is for Real."
How about you?
Have you read this book? Do you have thoughts to share? What let's you know that heaven is for real?