Heaven

Heaven

No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love him.

1 Corinthians 2:9

Last summer I spent a weekend visiting with my two sisters, Gail and Barbara. The three of us stayed at a hotel in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and enjoyed a few days of walking, talking, shopping, and playing games.

The first morning we walked, we explored a neighborhood near the hotel. To our pleasant surprise, we stumbled on Noel Ridge, a sprawling park that contained acres of gorgeous flowers and groundcovers. It was a gardener’s delight. The three of us walked from one tier of gardens to another, stopping to admire the beauty and variety of each section. Although I’m not the gardener that either of my sisters is, I came away with a few new planting ideas for next year: “Forever Blue” eustoma, “Lavender Lace” cuphea, and pink alteranthera. I don’t know how to pronounce any of those names, much less grow them, but it will be fun to give them a try.

As I wandered around the colorful gardens, the words of a song came to mind:

Heav’n above is softer blue,

Earth around is sweeter green!

Something lives in ev’ry hue

Christless eyes have never seen:

Birds with gladder song o’erflow

Flow’rs with deeper beauties shine,

Since I know, as now I know,

I am His and He is mine.^a

While living on this earth, I have opportunities to appreciate a tiny percentage of the wonders and works of our Creator. But I hope that when I get to heaven, I’ll be able to admire every single flower and plant that God created. I can’t imagine what it will be like to stroll through that garden.

Father in heaven,

Thanks for little tastes of heaven that you give us here on earth. Amen.