Questions About Heaven

Ever since my mother’s dog, Zeke died and we told The B Man that he went to heaven the concept has been on his mind. Several nights while we say prayers he asks about it.

“Where is Heaven?”

“When will I go to Heaven?”

“Are there toys in Heaven?”

“What can I eat in Heaven?”

“Will you and Daddy be in Heaven too?”

“I don’t want to go to Heaven, I want to stay here.”

Coming up with answers to these questions can be hard sometimes. I mean how the heck do I know? I’ve never been there. ; )

The other night he asked , “How will we get up to heaven? In an airplane?”

I said, “Perhaps, but I don’t think that’s quite the way it works.”

He said, “Well good ’cause we don’t have one so it would be hard to get there that way.”

I thought about going into some explanation of the lives we live on earth and our souls and Jesus’ death on the cross and the promises God has made to us coming to fruition, etc. but I thought maybe that was a little too much for a four-year-old. So instead I told him that I think Heaven is a beautiful and peaceful place where we will be with God and all his angels. He was quiet for a moment (and probably thinking, “WHAT??”) and I started to really think about Heaven myself and wonder if my Heaven will be full of calorie-free chocolate and The B Man’s will have all the Thomas Trains and an intricate track that goes on forever.

Is our heaven whatever we have loved in this world or is it full of things that He believes we will love there? Do we really get to see Him every “day” or just feel his presence? Are we truly reunited with our loved ones who went before us and if so, how long does it take? For those who die old, are they young again in Heaven? And for those who died as wee little babes, is Jesus holding them in his arms? Those must be some big arms, if so.

I have many questions myself that remain left unanswered until that glorious day when I see his face. It reminds me of that song by Mercy Me, “I Can Only Imagine.” I think maybe I need to play that song for The B Man. Because really, that is all any of us can do, Imagine…

So, I’d like to know what your idea of Heaven is and how do you explain it to your children?