Heaven is For Real by Todd Burpo

I will be the first to admit that I have a horrible memory.  If you tell me something today it is very likely I will not even remember talking to you tomorrow.  Scary, I know.  And it's even more true with books.  I can read a book, really like it, recommend it to friends, but then forget what it is about in less than a week.  This happens in most all cases except with the book Heaven is For Real. This is one book I remember vividly and it's not just because there is a cute little boy on the front cover.  This book knocked my socks off.

Heaven is For Real recounts the story of Burpo's son, Colton, and his recollection of when he entered heaven. Colton, then age four, slipped into a coma while undergoing surgery to combat a near-fatal illness.  More than four months after his surgery and miraculous recovery, Colton started to recount his time in heaven.  Little bit, by little bit, Colton volunteered information about things he saw, heard and experienced while "sitting on Jesus' lap."  Totally unprovoked, little Colton told his parents things he had no way of knowing.  He told of meeting his unborn sister (his mom had miscarried years before but had never told Colton), someone who claimed he was he great-grandfather "Pop", but younger and without glasses, and about how he saw his dad praying in a tiny room in the hospital and his mom crying and talking on the phone in the waiting room while he was undergoing surgery.  The story is told by the father but uses mostly Colton's words and child-like details.  I think it is for that reason I can still remember almost the entire book. Well, that and the fact that it was easy to read and very, very, emotional.

I am sure I looked like a mess over the two days it took me to read this book.  I either had my mouth open in utter amazement at the images from heaven Colton was describing to his parents or I was in full-on ugly cry mode.  There really was no middle ground.  The book has sold over 2.5 million copies and it is easy to see why.  It is written in a very simplistic and easy to read manner.  To me, it was a parent telling a story about a very scary, emotional and then enlightening time in his life with a smattering of toddler all mixed in.  I could relate to that.  In some ways, it was even fun.  I could not wait to hear more about heaven and what it is like for my loved ones that are there right now.  To hear heaven described by an innocent four-year-old was even more special.   Some critics have written that they read this book with a fine tooth comb, trying to find something at fault with it.  Surely, they thought, this was too good to be true.  Not at all, in my estimation.  As am parent, I read this book and was reminded that every day we have with our children is a gift.  As a Christian, I read this book and was reminded of His love, comfort and promise.  But most of all, I read this book and was thankful that heaven really is for real.