Being a teacher has its perks. Working with children each day for the past 7 years has given me tons of zany stories. The older kids have more of a filter for what's appropriate and what's not. The younger kids just bare it all. I have a vivid memory of a 5 year old telling me he had to fart. Sometimes the little guys say a little too much mind you, but they have the best intentions. With that said, they do say whatever they think or feel about something and tell the truth because that's what they do. So what do you do when a 4 year old says he met God?
For Todd Burpo, a reverend of a farm town in Nebraska, this is a reality. His son Colton gets severely sick to the point nobody believes he will make it. Todd even finds himself yelling at God and forbidding him to take his son. Fortunately, his worst fear does not come true. Colton defeats the odds and survives what will always be the hardest thing his family will ever go through. The thing is, he had a little help. OK, a lot of help.
As time passes since the incident, Colton begins to disclose some intriguing information about concepts beyond anyone's dreams. While at the park, Colton and his dad were enjoying a sunny day. Then he leisurely explains that he met God. His father took this as a creative imagination and passed it off. That is, until Colton revealed information that nobody could reveal unless they had met God. For one, he saw his dad yell at God in the hospital, even though he was in a different room far from the operating table. He also saw his mother calling friends and asking for prayers. Todd told his wife this new information and she didn't quite buy it. She honestly didn't want Todd to buy it either. To make matters worse, his own church wanted him to stop talking about it as it made parish members uncomfortable (Which makes no sense, these people are known for their strong faith, shouldn't this be a beautiful miracle?). But Todd was not going to back down and after hearing countless amazing details of his son's experience, he knew he had to tell his story.
Finally, when Colton told his mom that he met his baby sister in Heaven, she knew Colton was telling the truth. Nobody had ever told Colton he had a sister as well as the fact they hadn't named her. This and other accounts were disclosed as time went on and I am happy to say that eventually, Colton's story was told and believed.
This was an excellent account of the book Heaven is for Real. I wasn't sure if the special effects would give the book justice, but they truly did. My favorite detail is that you never see God's face until the very end, and I will not spoil how it occurs. I dare you not to gasp when you see it. This was a beautiful film filled with emotion, compassion, perseverance, and most importantly faith. Did I mention.......it's a true story? Now go see it!
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