How close is heaven?

You Tube has a posting about a little boy who says he's been to heaven. Authors have written books about being in heaven. Who am I to scoff? I have never been to heaven, but I've been close. Holding my newborn babies felt like receiving a gift from God. I was euphoric.

Being with my mom, my best friend, my seven year old niece and years later, her mother when they died made me aware that there is a power far greater than mine.

Rushing to the hospital when my son was in a serious motorcycle accident was a nightmare. All those Sunday School prayers and church rituals were forgotten. I was instantly reduced to my earliest level of negotiation, a child pleading with a parent. I prayed from my heart and I begged.

A few years ago hubby and I were power of attorney for his elderly aunt who was in a nursing home. She developed sepsis and became seriously ill. She was hospitalized and comatose for awhile. She awoke lucid, anxious to tell me something. She said she had gone away and had been on a trip. I explained that she was in a hospital.

She insisted, "No, I went away on a trip."

I asked where she had gone on her trip.

"I went to Heaven, and the colors are so brilliant. You wouldn't believe all of the flowers, they're everywhere. Heaven is so colorful.(She could not find words to describe the bright colors, like the little boy on You Tube). And I saw God. I did! He's not white; he has light brown skin, and he's very good looking, not at all like those church pictures; he's younger."

Yes, I chuckled.

I wanted her to keep talking, but an attendant walked in and she lost her train of thought. I tried to get her to focus again on her trip. She was trying so hard to get back to that place, but she was also trying hard to please me. I asked if she could tell me one more thing. She said, "Oh yes, the food is realy good there, and tell your mom I can get her a lunch plate for $2.50."

It was like pricking a balloon with a needle. We both emotionally deflated rapidly.
We were never able to recapture the moment.

Who am I to doubt that she went to heaven?

Flowers? YES!

Unbelievably brilliant colors everywhere? YES!

Food for two and a half bucks a plate?
Naw, that was her concious thoughts surfacing through unconciousness.

Scientists have a theory about the physical things that occur in our brains as we die. Theologians have a theory; atheists and agnostics and religious people have their opinions and beliefs. I have mine.

When my mother was on her death bed, my son's wife was expecting a baby girl. She would have been my mom's fourth great-grandchild. I said, "Mom, if you and Jason's unborn baby pass one another in heaven, kiss her on her tummy."

Nicole was born with a birthmark on her belly in the shape of lips. I call it her Maw-maw kiss.

I've never been to heaven, but I've been close ...