Thoughts on Heaven

Our ward's seminary teacher, the very sweet and creative Amanda Jones sent out an email requesting us to interview our children's thoughts on heaven why Jesus loves us.  What a joy it was on this snowy Sunday to pull them aside individually and chat with them of scared things.  What a joy it was to hear their unfiltered responses.  Here they are:
James, age 11

"I know Jesus loves me because he died for us and it takes so much love to die for someone.  I read about it in the scriptures and I feel it is true.

I want to go to heaven because it would be a great place to be, I want to feel of Heavenly Father's love and see Him for real, I'd like to live forever in His presence"

I think heaven is a beautiful city, it looks so majestic, almost flame like, words cannot describe it. Like a kingdom of gold with a golden gate and with white horses with golden wings that pull chariots, and resurrected beings with white robes and we are with people we love."

William, age 9

"I know Jesus loves me because I heard about it and I felt his love, sometimes I feel his love when I feel miserable, it is a feeling in my heart that comforts me.

I want to go to heaven so we can have everlasting happiness, It sounds really comfortable to be there.

I don't know what heaven is like, something like a pure white city, there would be animals roaming the streets, there will be all kinds of different landscapes"

Peter, age 6

"I know Jesus loves me because Heavenly Father taught him how to love.  Jesus helped make our earth.  He died and got resurrected so everyone can be resurrected.

I want to go to heaven to see what Heavenly Father and Jesus and all the angels look like because I forgot.

In heaven you could rest and have free time there without any contention.  I think it is clouds but when you are in an airplane it is not visible.  I think it is lots of people sitting on clouds taking naps"

Maryanna, age 5

"I know Jesus loves me because when I was little he told me. Also, when I was born before I came to earth he told me. Do you know why I know he loves me still?  Because I feel him in my heart!
I want to go to heaven because I want to see Jesus again, and of course I want to see Heavenly Father also.

Up in heaven its brown stuff all over and there's people and their names are Heavenly Father and Jesus, I can't remember what Heavenly Father looks like but he is a human and he looks white when he comes down from heaven.  He loves me too.  There is brown stuff in heaven because every picture I see of Jesus there is brown stuff around him."

Clara, age 4

"I know Jesus loves me because I do good things to other people, he loves me because I am a child.

I want to go to heaven so I could eat yummy food and because I really want to meet other children and play with my friends in heaven.

In heaven Jesus and Heavenly Father are there and also Mary, Jesus' mom.  It is a different color place"

Henry, age 2

"Jesus loves me because I want to go to Jesus' house.  Jesus loves me because I love him.  Jesus is white.

I want to go to heaven's house.  

Heaven is green or blue or purple, it looks not like a naughty place, it is a happy place.  I love it and Thomas (the tank engine) is there and Jesus can play with Percy and I can play with Thomas.  I can sing Scripture Power loud for Jesus.  Jesus needs to shoot bad guys.  I need to fly up and fly up like Dumbo to Jesus"

As for me.....

I know Jesus loves me.  In his lifetime he shared many parables that we may learn of his life, love and purpose. One of my favorite is of the lost sheep because just like everyone else, at times I am the lost sheep.  The love of the Savior is both universal and individual, it is unconditional.  The words of Isaiah are piercing with this truth and when sung to Handel's music even more so....Isaiah 40:11 "He shall feed his flock like a shepherd:  he shall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry them in his bosom, and shall gently lead those that are with young"...... Isaiah 53:5-6 "But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.  All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all".  I know Jesus loves me despite my imperfections, I know his love is perfect, I know it is his love and life that may perfect us all.

To me this knowledge brings me closer to heaven.  I may not know what heaven looks likes, but I have certainly felt it, it is peace.  Though this peace may come and go with the distractions and chaos of earthly living, peace, or a piece of heaven is what I live for. I don't believe it is something we have to wait for death to discover but it is something that can grow in our hearts and then carry us beyond when our mortal life is through, that we may once more return to the presence of our loving Heavenly Father.  

One thing I am sure of is heaven would not feel like heaven unless I was surrounded by the ones I love.  Here is a little picture of my heaven, as captured last night while all the kids were asleep for our annual sleep over under the Christmas tree.

I will be honest in recording that this scene of "heaven" only lasted a few hours, the rest of the night felt quite the opposite with the dog throwing up all over and the youngest ones repeatedly waking with both laughs and cries.  No doubt we are tired.  

But my greatest hope this Christmas season is that I may find peace, and draw heaven near even through the most troubled nights and noisiest days, that the love Jesus offers may remain still in my heart, not just a day, a moment or season but with me forever and guide me towards heaven.