When I was a boy Heaven seemed
a far off place beyond the clouds and above the sky. As I grew older and wiser,
though, Heaven seemed to grow closer and nearer as well. Now I can see that
Heaven can be everywhere even in each of us. In fact, there have been many
instances in my life when love opened a window to my soul and Heaven shined
through.
Here are just a few of those moments when the light of
Heaven brightened my day here on Earth. There was huddling close by the stove
with my brothers on those cold Winter days when I was a boy. There was the sweet
sound of the first birds singing in the trees to herald the coming of Spring.
There was seeing the Sun majestically rising over the hillside at dawn. There
was hearing a cat purring on my lap and feeling a dog licking my hand. There was
sitting down to a family dinner after a long, hard day at work. There was
hearing those wonderful words, "I Love You!" And there was saying those
wonderful words, "I Love You!"
Those moments are just the beginning, however. There
was also every time I ever held a sleeping baby in my arms. There was every
moment I stopped to help someone in need. There was every time I read something
that both cleared my mind and touched my heart. There was every instance I
started a prayer with " I love you dear God and I thank you for my life." There
was every time I did something good with no thought of reward. There was every
moment I took time to play with children or to listen to an elderly soul share
the stories of their life. There was every second I spent sharing encouraging
words, doing kind acts, and giving out loving hugs.
Heaven shines through to our lives here on Earth. It
is carried on the beams of love. Heaven can be as close as the beat of our own
hearts. And God can make a forever home inside our souls. We need only to
welcome Him in.
Joseph J. Mazzella joemazzella@frontier.com
The Illustrator: This daily newsletter is dedicated to encouraging
everyone to look towards Jesus as the source of all the solutions to our
problems. It contains a daily inspirational story, a Bible verse and encouraging
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The Nugget: Published three times a week, this newsletter features inspirational devotionals and mini-sermons dedicated to drawing mankind closer to each other and to Christ.