One Day Visit (Prompt 10/21)

What they do in heaven we are ignorant of; what they do not do we are told expressly.

– Jonathan Swift

The doctrine of the Kingdom of Heaven, which was the main teaching of Jesus, is certainly one of the most revolutionary doctrines that ever stirred and changed human thought.

– H. G. Wells

He whose head is in heaven need not fear to put his feet into the grave.

– Matthew Henry

 

Oh, friends, I am writing late tonight adding to this here post and thinking how both painful and poignant this prompt can be.  Not a light one…and my own busy Summer day kept me from posting earlier. Take time for this exercise and prompt. It’s hard, but it will bless you if you are feeling up to it. I say this knowing the pain of recent loss may make this more challenging for some, so please…take the prompt into new realms, or morph it as you will…go back in time if you must…use any of the quotes as springboards to deeper waters.

Trust the journey…

* I did a Periscope his morning (@10minutes) pop on over to watch the replay if that seems good to you. Not mandatory. Just coastal view and beauty and some chattiness from me.

I am not getting any younger, you know how I know, aside of the obvious? Because a number of those I care about have left this present life. It’s a strange thing as I ponder my youth and recalling the first time someone significant to me personally died. It rocked my world. I was about 19. I had little to no experience dealing with the reality of death and the afterlife at this point in my life. I knew about Heaven, but not much. I knew about Jesus, but not much more than 2nd Grade Catholic School.

Now, with my 50th birthday on the horizon, I have said goodbye to many more than one.

There is a longing for those we love that never dies. It burns within us.

It’s never easy to say goodbye, even if we believe it is temporary. Sometimes there are things we left unsaid. We know there are no tears beyond His glorious gates…but in the meantime, we wait. We long to be reunited with old friends, acquaintances, loved ones.

Today our prompt may be challenging or joyous, or maybe both. Be gentle with yourself. Be brave. Either way take the prompt as you wish.

Here it is:

You have a One Day Pass to visit Heaven and spend the day with a loved one who has gone on ahead.  What will you want to say, do ?

OR

Make a list of those who have passed  or choose just one person to focus on that has had some influence, impact or significance in your life. Write out a brief prayer for each one to God thanking Him for their contribution to your life and His amazing grace and infinite knowledge. Praise God with your pen for His unfathomable and faithful ways, and for Jesus the One who makes Heaven possible for all who believe.

Fear not, therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows. So everyone who acknowledges me before men, I also will acknowledge before my Father who is in heaven, but whoever denies me before men, I also will deny before my Father who is in heaven.

Matthew 10:31-33

Happy Journaling!