What do children do in heaven?

13 Feb

We 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 Feb

We 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!

Storms

3 Feb

A few nights ago, tornado warnings were issued in the area, and we didn’t quite know what to do with ourselves. Typically, we would be scurrying around the house gathering up Sammy’s medical equipment, emergency supplies, medications, and blankets in preparation for seeking shelter in our bathroom. On Memorial Day weekend a few years ago, a tornado did hit our neighborhood, and Sammy was safe and secure in the bathroom surrounded by everything he might need in the event of a disaster–except we had forgotten the Ambu Bag which he would need if he were to stop breathing. It was on that day when I realized that I house just isn’t a home unless there’s an Ambu Bag in every room!

A few nights ago, we were watching the storm roll in, listening to the emergency sirens blaring, and with a slightly-nervous voice Steve warned, “Leslie, you need to get things ready!” My reply was, “Okay . . . but you realize that all I have to do is walk into the bathroom and close the door, right?” It was strange that my mind wasn’t racing with all of the “what ifs” and anticipating what steps I would need to take in an effort to keep Sammy safe because I have the peace and comfort of knowing that Sammy is completely safe and secure in heaven!

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