When my aging parents lived in our granny suite, they bought a new stereo because they could no longer hear the old one. The old one was an attractive little unit, complete with record player and 8-track. I think Noah used it on the Ark for weather reports.
I was showing Mom and Dad how to set the digital clock on their new unit when my son Jeffrey, who had been admiring the 100-watt speakers said, "Um, Grandpa, you should put this thing in your will. I'd like it."
My father was hard of hearing. He said, "Bill? Who's Bill?"
My mother almost fell off her rocking chair laughing, then said, "Well Jeffrey, the Bible says it's good to remember how short our lives are, 'so that we may be wise.'"
"Surprise?" said Dad, "What surprise?"
Our son Stephen was five when he began asking about Heaven. "When you die," he said, "do they take you to the body shop?"
When Jeffrey found out how old Grandpa was, his eyes grew wide. "Wow," he said, "you must be getting ready for Heaven."
And he was. Those who think about Heaven aren't running away from life, they're running toward it.
"I don't wanna go to Heaven," said Jeffrey, as we sat around the dinner table one night. "All we're gonna do is sit around and talk."
"Where did you hear that?"
"Well, that's all you grownups do. I heard we're just gonna worship God all the time. With a worship band and stuff."
"And there won't be dogs in Heaven," added Rachael. "If Mojo won't be there, I don't wanna go."
"The Bible doesn't say dogs won't be in Heaven," I said, "It just says there won't be cats." Rachael wrapped me on the knuckles with her spoon.
"Dad," said Stephen, out of the blue, "How come the only time you use my middle name is when I'm in trouble?"
"Don't change the topic, Stephen Andrew Callaway," I said.
"One thing I'm gonna like is the fruit." Rachael was smiling. "There will be tons of fruit in Heaven." She'd seen pictures in the stories we'd read.
"I love it when you ask about Heaven," I said. "Remember, God isn't boring, so why would Heaven be boring? He created hummingbirds and taste buds and stars our telescopes can't see. He's been preparing Heaven for us for a long. He sent Jesus to make a way for us to get there. Isn't that awesome? And you kids have trusted Him, so you'll be there, and it will be out of this world."
"Will there be stereos in Heaven?" asked Jeffrey, interrupting our thoughts.
"Not the kind we have here," I answered. "They'll be better."
That's when he said, "Good. Then Grandpa won't be needing his new one."
Phil Callaway is a speaker, author, and host of Laugh Again radio (https://laughagain.ca/). Visit him at philcallaway.com.
