My husband and I viewed the movie “Heaven is for Real” today. I had read the book and found it a very moving testimony, especially since the testimony is from a four-year-old! God uses all of us – no matter our age – no matter how long we lived on this earth- no matter if all our whole life was in our mother’s womb – to divulge His truths and lessons.
I am sure most people are aware of Colton Burpo’s story. Colton’s father, Todd, is a pastor and he was certain that Colton experienced heaven and spoke to Jesus for a reason. After some soul-searching, Colton’s family decided their mission was to spread the message that heaven is real – a real place where we can love and serve our Lord after we leave this earth. After reading Colton’s story, I became convinced that there was another message.
Colton told his dad that Jesus had a message for him. He informed his dad that Jesus wanted his dad to know that He loved the children. When Colton’s dad responded he already knew that Jesus loved all the children; Colton repeated several times, “But He REALLY loves the children.”
This message from Jesus along with the fact that Colton met his sister who “died in mommy’s tummy”, led me right away to believe that Jesus wanted Todd to preach about the precious unborn. The Burpos had lost a child of God before they even knew if the child was a girl or boy. This little girl presented herself to Colton as his sister and could not stop hugging him. Colton was only four and had not been told of his mother’s miscarriage. When he related this encounter with his sister to his parents; they truly believed Colton had experienced something very few of us live to tell. Soon after this revelation, the Burpos were blessed with another baby.
It was revealed to a four-year-old that all life is sacred. Even the very young in a mother’s womb, who never have a chance to be named or see this earth, share in our eternal glory with God.
I have my own personal experience with this message. After reading “Heaven is for Real”, I shared my love for the story with someone very dear to me. She went out that same day and bought the book. She was in the early stages of her first pregnancy and she and her husband read the book together. One week later, the two of them went for a 2 month ultrasound and learned that she was carrying twins. Double the reason to rejoice – but no, one of the babies was alive, the other baby was dead. I was out of town when I heard this news and hurriedly called her knowing that she would take this news extremely hard. But, the Lord had prepared her. In His mercy He had allowed me to share the story of Colton and He led her to read the book with her husband. She was calm. She told me that they were very grateful that one baby was healthy and alive and they knew the other twin was in heaven and they would see Angel one day.
Yes the Lord loves us and sends us messengers. He guides us and consoles us. We do not know the reasons for the bad things. We only know that He knows what is best for us!
God sent His only Son, the Word, to spread the truth. He now calls each of us to continue what Jesus taught. It may mean suffering or persecution. We should follow the example of His Son and take up our cross.
Corinthians 4:1 “You should think of us as Christ’s servants, who have been put in charge of God’s secret truths.”
Thank you Burpo family for picking up your cross and spreading God’s sacred truths!
C’est Bon
Love,
Sherry
Proud Catholic 