(excerpted from http://heavenisforreal.net)
Heaven Is for Real is the true story of the four-year old son of a small town Nebraska pastor who during emergency surgery slips from consciousness and enters heaven. He survives and begins talking about being able to look down and see the doctor operating and his dad praying in the waiting room. The family didn't know what to believe but soon the evidence was clear.
Colton said he met his miscarried sister, whom no one had told him about, and his great grandfather who died 30 years before Colton was born, then shared impossible-to-know details about each. He describes the horse that only Jesus could ride, about how "reaaally big" God and his chair are, and how the Holy Spirit "shoots down power" from heaven to help us.
Told by the father, but often in Colton's own words, the disarmingly simple message is heaven is a real place, Jesus really loves children, and be ready, there is a coming last battle.
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My friend Kristy let me borrow this book. Oh my goodness, what a fabulous story to tell! My heart ached as Todd described the fear and anxiety he and Sonja went through when they didn’t know what was wrong with Colton and then, as they rushed him into emergency surgery. As a parent, all we want to do is protect our children. When we can’t, it is terrifying.
Colton's story starts when he is about the same age Lucas currently is. Maybe that is why it resounded with me. The conversations Colton had about his experience sounded just like comments Lucas could have made. He didn't get stuck on the "how," "what if," and "why" of it. It is the innocent perspective that intrigued me.
I am glad I read it and would encourage others to put it on their reading list.
