"Heaven Is Here"

I recently finished reading a book entitled "Heaven is Here" by Stephanie Nielson. In August 2008, she was in a little Cessna flying with her husband, Christian and his friend/flight instructor Doug. They were in a horrible crash. Their friend Doug passed away but Christian and Stephanie survived. Christian had a broken back and both were badly burned though Christian not nearly as bad as Stephanie, who flat-lined a couple times in the ambulance on the way to the hospital. She would be in a medically induced coma for 3 months and would barely survive. The book is written in parts and the first part recounts their life before the crash. The rest of the book recounts from the time Stephanie woke up from her coma through her first year of recovery. It is an awe inspiring book and although Stephanie is LDS (Mormon) it is a book about faith, hope, God's love for us, acceptance, tolerance, healing, true love, etc.

It got me thinking, really thinking about a lot of things: life, death, obstacles, family, traditions, what I am teaching my children, love.....and more. I haven't quite sorted out all my thoughts. However, I do agree that Heaven is here. I once heard someone say, "I know what hell is. Hell is when you are separated from your loved ones." I've actually heard that said more than once by people who have lost a loved one much too soon. Heaven is here because family is here.

I'm not sure I am completely done with this topic but am for now. At the age of 8, I was baptized and I received a plaque with a poem on it from my grandparents. It is actually part of a song. For the full lyrics http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/w/h/whatgodh.htm  However, I leave you with only the part that was on my plaque.


God hath not promised skies always blue,
Flower strewn pathways all our lives through;
God hath not promised sun without rain,
Joy without sorrow, peace without pain.


But God hath promised strength for the day,
Rest for the labor, light for the way,
Grace for the trials, help from above,
Unfailing sympathy, undying love.