I (Leslie) went out of town over the weekend for a girls’ weekend. My friend, Heather (Harrison’s mom), and I traveled to Bowling Green, Kentucky to meet up with two other friends from Alabama, Marki and Marilyn. All four of us have experienced the death of a child, and we gathered together in a rustic log cabin to share our stories and share our hearts. Although it might sound like a sad experience, it wasn’t. Of course, we all talked about our children and experiences, but we also laughed and enjoyed each other’s company! It was good.
What do children do in heaven?
13 FebWe have been amazed at the number of messages we have received from total strangers who have stumbled across Sammy’s website. Last week, Monica from Alexandria, Indiana, sent us a passage from a book entitled, “Letter from Heaven”. This passage is a fictional answer to the question of “What do children do in heaven?”
…The first thing you might have noticed is that heaven is filled with their singing and laughter. They play together in grassy fields, catching bright-colored butterflies, giving them a quick kiss, and watching them fly away. In heaven, children can soar with the birds over a rainbow. Their laughter rings out like silver bells. Small groups of children sometimes spread out on their tummies on the velvet grass, coloring pictures with crayons of iridescent colors only seen in heaven.
During my long walk, I passed one little boy who was lying in a flower-covered meadow reading a book with his head resting on the back of a lion. A tiny lamb, pure and clean as snow, was curled up next to him. What a picture of total peace, security, and contentment. I saw the pleasure the animals bring to the children as they played together. Rosy-cheeked children were shouting merrily as they played hide-and-go-seek with baby kangaroos. Two little boys were taking a ride on the back of a graceful tiger. Another pair of adventuresome little girls were soaring through the cloudless sky on the wings of an eagle. Their hair was blowing straight out behind them as their joyous laughter rang through the pristine air. What a sight!
Are you surprised we have animals here in heaven? Why wouldn’t there be? When God first created the human race, He put the animals under our protective care. Animals are very special to God. The children are able to enjoy their playfulness without any trace of harm or danger just as God intended when He created them. Never forget that animals had a special place in the garden, they have a special place there on earth, and they have a special place here in heaven where you can enjoy them in complete safety forever.
…..Children in heaven are joyfully cared for and tenderly loved by Jesus, the angels, and their many friends. As part of God’s family, they’re never sad or lonely. They love their family on earth but now with an intense, perfected love that is eternal. And one day, as they are swinging on the garden gate, they will see their parents and other loved ones who accepted God’s gift of forgiveness step over the border into heaven!
Cayden
12 FebWe went out of town last week. We drove to North Carolina to attend the Celebration of Life service for Cayden Arnold. Cayden’s mom is on the board of directors of Families for HoPE, and she’s one of our founding directors. Cayden was born in August 2003, just four months following Sammy’s birth. Cayden passed away in his sleep on January 31, just three weeks after Sammy. The trip was very therapeutic and healing for us, allowing us to express our love and grief for both Sammy and Cayden, along with all of the other little ones with HPE who have passed away. Today, we learned that a writer from the Associated Press has written about Cayden and his special family. Click on this link from USA Today.
Steve returned to work yesterday following a leave of absence. I’m at home today, and today is my first day alone in the house since Sammy passed away. The only sounds I hear are the furnace running and drops of water from the leaky faucet in the bathroom just around the corner. It’s quite different than it was with Sammy here when I’d hear the nurse’s footsteps, the suction machine, the feeding pump alarms. No longer do I hear the phrases, “Sammy just threw up, again!”, “Leslie, can you come look at this?”, or “Did you realize that you’re almost out of wipes?” Those phrases and sounds would be music to my ears today!