I have been praying for a special young lady with fervor. I love her dearly and since she’s been going through some hard things, I was concerned for her, especially since her once chatty personality had become sullen and withdrawn. In an effort to create better communication between us, I’d purchased a deck of conversation cards, specifically geared toward her age. Anytime we were together, we’d pull out cards and ask each other random questions. It proved to be fun and generated some interesting conversation.

Last week she pulled out a card with this question: “What do you think will happen after you die?” My response brought a brief testimony about my decision to ask Jesus to be my Savior and thus, knowing I would go to heaven. Her response alluded to reincarnation. I tried to initiate some discussion on truth vs. fiction, but she challenged me, “How do you know heaven is real since you haven’t been there?” I briefly answered, but didn’t want things to get tense, so I let it go and we picked another question.

The next time I saw her, I wanted to circle back. “You asked how I knew heaven was real.” Then I shared Colton Burpo’s story based on his book, “Heaven is for Real.” I also shared how my own father told us of his heavenly experience in the days before he died. Her body language showed what she soon verbalized, “I’m not interested in this subject.” I gently pressed. “Honey, you might not be interested, but it’s very important. I want you to be in heaven with me.” She responded, “I don’t want to learn any more about this right now.” I let it drop, hoping seeds had been planted.

Since I’d promised ice cream, we headed to Dairy Queen. We were greeted by an older man who was contagiously happy. When he turned to serve another customer, she commented on the nice man. As he returned to complete our order, he stated, “I’m happy because I just checked out of hospice.” I gave him an inquisitive look, and he responded. “I had sepsis and was told I would die. I did die, and I went to heaven, but God told me it wasn’t my time, and I had to go back.”

Goosebumps trickled down my arms as he continued, “When you’ve been to heaven, you see life differently.”

“I can only imagine,” I responded and then added, “You really ought to write your story.”

His head was already nodding, “Yes, I have the medical records that confirm I was dead. I plan to write about it.”

We visited a bit longer and then our order was ready. Since it was closing time, we took the ice cream to the car. As we wandered to the car, I couldn’t hold back. “Well, what did you think of that?”

A little smile tugged at her lips as she responded. “With that coming up just after we were talking, that’s quite a coincidence. I guess God wants me to learn something I didn’t think I wanted to.”

I couldn’t hold back my chuckle. “Yes, God is good that way.” With the topic now reopened, I added, “This subject of heaven is particularly fresh for me. My mom went to heaven four years ago tomorrow. I miss her and am so glad I’ll get to see her again. I want you to be there too.”

We talked a little longer and then it was time for our next stop. I trust there will be another opportunity. One thing is certain, she no longer has to take my word for it. She has now personally met someone who went to heaven and came back to tell others about it! John 14:2-3: “My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me so that you also may be where I am.” (NIV).