by Todd Burpo with Lynn Vincent, 2010
True story about 4 year-old Colton Burpo from Imperial, Nebraska, who almost died of a ruptured appendix but gets a trip to heaven and relates what he heard and saw over the course of 6 years to his mom and dad, Sonja and Todd Burpo. Todd is a pastor, overhead garage door salesman, and a volunteer fireman, who had a rough year – August 2002 – shatters leg; Oct 2002 kidney stones; November 2002 – breast cancer (yes!). Then in Feb 27, 2003 – March 17, 2003, Colton’s ordeal starts and gets worse while on a trip to Colorado and after a visit to the Butterfly Pavilion. Vomiting every 1/2 hour. From March 5, 2003 – March 19, 2003, they are in the hospital in North Platte, Nebraska (after checking him out of the hospital in Imperial, Nebraska where they dismissed the suggestion of appendicitis!)
He has a miraculous recovery the day after the doctor tells them he’s done all he can do (two surgeries and cleaning out abscesses). Now it’s time to transfer him to Children’s Hospital. A blizzard closes all the roads but the next morning Colton is fine and is playing like normal.
Over the course of the next 6 years he tells about meeting Jesus in Heaven – sat on His lap. He heard Colton’s daddy’s prayer and answered it. Colton saw from heaven that Todd was in a little room by himself praying (raging) to God. He also knew Sonja was in another place in the hospital talking on her cellphone and praying.
Some of the things Colton said after being in Heaven:
-Did that man have Jesus? He can’t get into heaven if he didn’t have Jesus in his heart.
-That’s where the angels sing to me.
-John the Baptist is really nice.
-Jesus has a horse.
-“That’s where all the rainbow colors are.”
-“Jesus has red markers” (the wounds on his hands and feet)
-“And he has brown hair and he has hair on his face..And his eyes…Oh, Dad, his eyes are so pretty.”
-“His clothes were white, but it was purple from here to here. Jesus was the only one in heaven who had purple on, Dad…” “And he had this gold thing on his head.”
-There were lots of kids.
-Everybody’s got wings (except for Jesus).
-All the people have a light above their head.
“Well, the reason I was yelling was that Jesus came to get me. He said I had to go back because He was answering your prayer. That’s how come I was yelling for you.”
Colton met his grandpa (“pop”) who died in July 1976, in heaven: “Pop has really big wings!”
They showed Colton pictures of Jesus but none of them were right until one painted by Akiane Kramarik, an 8 year old who had visions of heaven since she was 4 – and whose mother was atheist.
Colton also met a sister who Sonja miscarried before Colton was born when she was only 2 months pregnant. “Mommy, I have two sisters. You had a baby die in your tummy, didn’t you?…She’s okay, God adopted her.”
“[God’s throne] It was big, Dad…really, really big, because God is the biggest one there is. And he really, really loves us, Dad. You can’t believe how much he loves us!”
“And do you know that Jesus sits right next to God?”
(the right side-who sits on the other side: “That’s where the angel Gabriel is. He’s really nice.”)
‘I sat by God the Holy Spirit…he’s kind of blue.”
“God and Jesus light up heaven. It never gets dark. It’s always bright.”
‘He saw the gates of heaven, he said: “They were made of gold and there were pearls on them.” The heavenly city itself was made of something shiny, “like gold or silver.” The flowers and trees in heaven were “beautiful,” and there were animals of every kind!”
Other interesting things – Satan is not dead so the angels have swords – they are doing battle against Satan. Also, Colton’s Dad is too – He has a sword.
Also, the Holy Spirit shoots down power to Todd when he is praying – especially about his preaching, during his preaching.