Heaven Is For Real

This past week I spent time with family in Colorado. I could easily write about my adventures of standing in waterfalls, hiking canyons, or swimming in a pool that makes you feel like you could fall off the top of the mountain. But, believe it or not something much cooler happened on this trip of a lifetime. I learned about my 8 year old cousin Baron's faith life. 

Baron, we call him Bear for short, is the wittiest kid you have ever met. He is a little small for his age and totes qualifies as a Nug. He loves dinosaurs. He loves sugar. He loves to cuddle. And his perfect date would consist of switching back and forth from the pool to the trampoline while making up games with a football.  

Bear is a tough guy. He only likes tom girls. He likes getting dirty. But he is not so secretly the sweetest, most sensitive soul I have ever met. This is the gent I speak so highly of.

One day we went for a hike at Dominguez Canyon. It was a long adventure but along the way we saw lizards, threw rocks off of rickety bridges, pretended we were cowboys, and swam in a creek. After the long morning of adventure, Bear was loosing energy so I walked slowly with him and intermittently gave him piggy back rides or carried him up on my shoulders. 

Here is a snip it of the dynamic duo:

When he was on his own two feet walking next to me we had some pretty fun chats. One topic was about his favorite books to read before bed. He mentioned a few dinosaur books, another one about a park ranger, and obviously as a true Colorado boy, there was a book about the Bronco's.

Then Baron said "I read from my children's bible by myself sometimes. And let me tell you. I believe in God, Jesus, and Heaven!"

I was taken back by his honesty and excitement.  I wanted to ask him all about it. When he prays, what does he see? What does he picture Heaven to be like? What makes him want to read the Children's Bible the nights he chooses to do so? 

Even though I was all for this conversation, I also knew he was exhausted, so I decided to meet him where he was at. 

I responded with "Me too, Baron."

I gave him a second and then said "I like many stories from the Bible. They help me a lot. Do you have a favorite story?"

Innocent Bear immediately got back to me with an answer. "The creation story. You know, with the animals and Adam and Eve." He summed up the whole thing for me, followed by "I know he is bad and he is kind of the devil. So I don't like the serpent. But I like that there is a snake in the story." 

I loved his answer and could not help but laugh and then ask him a few other little things. 

The next day he stopped by the Hotel my family was staying at. He jumped on my bed then stopped and pointed out the window. 

He said with his little manly voice "oh cool dude, that is my favorite building. You have the best view ever!"

Bear was pointing at the Catholic Church across the way.

He said, "that is the Church."

"I feel happy whenever I see it."

Both these conversations were quick and could easily be overlooked but, to me, they were utterly inspiring and just the little push I needed in my own prayer life. 

Childlike faith- what I aspire to have.

Childlike faith- Baron has it.

Childlike faith- something we all can learn from.

Baron, was the perfect reminder of the radical dependence we all ought to have in God. Even more so, he was the best example of allowing God to be a part of our lives and trusting Him with no bounds and doing do so with nothing but joy and excitement in our hearts.

Bear's, childlike love and sweet simplicity was a gentle reminder of Christ's presence in my life and I hope his awe in God can do the same for you!