"So, This Is Heaven" - next chapter

"Oh Hi, God, there you are!!!"

“Yes here I am and I have been here all this time, in the love you two share. Here I am. Are you hungry? I have a feast prepared!”

“Wait, we eat in heaven?”

“Of course there is! Why should food, flavors, herbs, spices—all some of My greatest work--why should we leave it all behind?”

“Why indeed, for all that You created Lord is worthy of great praise and appreciation for all eternity.”

Dad interrupted my thoughts, and said, “You should see what God has prepared! All these great cooks and chefs up here—do you think they want to give up the joy of creating the best dishes possible—especially now that they have full knowledge of what goes together the best!” My dad had become extremely excited as he pulled me to face another direction—‘Behold-the banquet fit for a King! Oh that’s right it is for a King—say hello to Jesus!”

How can one describe meeting God’s pure Love wrapped up in human form, now glorified—but still in that human form? My eyes swelled with tears of joy and yet of deep humility, as I bowed to worship this King of kings. But not for long for two hands reached out and enveloped me in this most wondrous loving embrace, flooding my spirit with a peace, and forgiving love—for He knew what my heart was thinking. ‘How could You do all You did for me, my sweet saving Lord? I am so not worthy to be in Your embrace.”

His laughter rang out like the deep tones of base drums rumbling into the sky—“Oh you are too so worthy of My Love! Look at you! Have you ever seen yourself through the eyes of Love?”

“Not love like Your love, Jesus, not like Your love.”

“Come, the food is prepared and you know how you did not like it when the family didn’t come on time to eat when you had cooked for them.”

We turned toward what seem to be an endless table of every possible type of dish, especially my favorites, spread out before me. But, then I gasped for my eyes caught sight of the ones who had prepared this feast. “You are all here! But who are all these others, faces so familiar but, yet I don’t know them, and they look so very excited to see me here.”

Dad laughed and replied, “How about 14 generations and counting of all of your ancestors and mine?” It is a good thing we have eternity for you to come and meet them all—and to enjoy all of this food--which by the way never gets cold—unless it is supposed to be cold! Let’s eat, let us talk—oh, okay then—go hug your Mom first.”

Embraced in the arms of my Mom, again I am thinking—“Yes, this is definitely heaven!”

It was while the food tasting, discussion over flavors and preparations’ and the endless tales of remember when--continued on and on—that more and more joy and happiness bubbled over too. Laughter, deep laughter could be heard echoing like through canyons. No one ever tired of listening, or telling tales of life and what was experienced, good and bad. What was more miraculously awesome was the fact that my mind could hear all, one at a time, even though it seem as if all were talking at the same time. Like the sound of praise and worshipping in tongues and melody—the harmony rose and dipped, and rippled like the sweetest of music to your ears.

Listening and wanting to hear more and more and taste and savor more and more—if it had not been for the persistence of something wet nudging at her hand that she finally looked down at the source, and screamed in great joy. Not one but all of her beloved pets—dogs, cats, squirrels, rabbits, and one steer named Rocky were eyeing her with great anticipation, waiting their turn to greet and welcome her home. It was useless to resist and down she went, doggie kisses all over the face, neck and arms—rolling and tumbling, she hugged and petted as best she could old friends who for years had been separated from her life, but not her heart.

Curly and Bessie—dogs from childhood, Sam, Squire, Patches, Buster, Dryfus, Misty, and Jake, all of my pets were at my side, and showing me their pleasure that came from seeing me again. Even Rocky the pet steer we had for a year was nudging at me, ‘watch those horns Rocky,’ I thought but then laughed for those horns wouldn’t hurt, even if one of those tips dug into my side. No pain here in Heaven

“God you think of everything,” I sigh, to make eternity perfect.”

Once again I am hearing this beautiful voice, this guide speaks softly as she tells me, “In this place all you ever loved, hoped for and desire to see again, comes to be alive and real, ready for your joy and happiness. You have so much more to experience. How about we return to all the times when you thought that your work was unnoticed, your faithfulness ignored. Or all those times you prayed and wondered if they were heard. Want to see what a difference you made over the years, not even realizing that you did? Would you like to see how many lives you touched by the simplest act of kindness that you gave to one and then it rippled down to others? ”

(to be continued in a book being written, “So This is Heaven.”­)