Heaven. It's Much Closer Than We Believe.

"Thy kingdom come thy will be done on Earth as it is in Heaven."  --Matthew 6:10

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So last week Neighbor Sally had another birthday. 

Around 1:00, she sat upon her tiny open-air front deck, so I carried over a birthday card for her. Beneath bright sunlight she appeared contented upon her plastic loveseat with turquoise cushions and word game books all upon a white and pink rug. 

I sat in the chair across from her while she happily opened my card, the breeze gently blowing her wavy grey hair. 

And oh that lilac bush at the rail beside us! The scent made me giddy and I exclaimed (a bit tipsy), "Wow, Sally! You've got a corner of Heaven right here. You're so blessed!" 

She smiled, chuckled, as if she'd not quite considered that before.

After our visit, I stepped back across our quiet street and thought, "A corner of Heaven upon Earth! During these turbulent days of 2022, I need more heavenly corners throughout my own home."

But then something came to me. With Jesus living inside our hearts? We also have Heaven, for Jesus brings Heaven along. He can't help it. They cannot be separated.

Heaven in our hearts overflowing into our homes! 

Grace

Gratitude

Peace

Courage

Calm

Wisdom

Comfort

Love

Joy in the doing of whatever God asks

--and Enough. We have Jesus and Heaven and enough. Now. This day.

And when we someday in actuality step into Heaven? May the atmosphere not feel foreign, but recognized(!) A continuance of air and light already familiar, for they helped carry us through this earthly life in joy.

Light cannot help but overcome all darkness and we have (and now shine) that light. Indeed.

"You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill cannot be hidden."   --- Matthew 5:14

"Heaven on Earth is a choice we must make not a place we must find."  --- Wayne Dyer

Wouldn't it be wonderful if our behavior gave people a glimpse of how folks in Heaven behave?

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Oh, and here's a wonderful, inspiring story. When a man during the great depression was laid off, he refused to sit around and mope. Instead, he created (and created) something in his own backyard which people still travel to see all these 90 years later!  (I queued it up for you.)  ツ

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This is my retelling of a story from the book, It's Incredible: 

Ann Kiemel went to interview a 72-year-old woman, an artist, and found her doing some landscaping in her backyard. Lifting big rocks, to be exact. The woman told her that she loved to garden and when Ann asked her what was her favorite thing in Life, the woman replied, "Manure. Because everything grows so well in it."

And then Ann asked the woman what kinds of things she disliked, as in chores such as washing dishes or vacuuming or making beds.

The elderly woman frowned. "Dislike? Whatever there is to be done--I like it!"

For many years this woman has been my hero. Her words still replay in my head and remind me, "How can I have heaven upon earth if my heart complains about the daily things I must do? Hmm?"

"He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart..."   ---Ecclesiastes 3:11

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Please remember: My posts are always about more than they appear to be. 

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 "For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses." ... Matthew 6:14,15