Thursday, September 16, 2010

If Heaven Is Perfect


When I look at Emilia my heart swells. She flutters around like a firefly, spreading a warmth over all she passes. She is a constant light. Her laughter is contagious. Her constant antics have us on our toes at all times. And that mischievous twinkle in her eye... well,I love it ! To me Emilia Faith is perfection.

When I was in school we were taught that heaven was a place of complete happiness. Obviously, being in the presence of God you have no choice but to be completely happy. In heaven there is no sickness, no sadness, no prejudices , no anger or jealousy. It is as Jesus said, "Paradise". It is home.

I love to think about heaven sometimes, especially when I'm missing someone who has left us. I think about how it will be when we are reunited. And of course I have a vision of what heaven looks like to me. There are beautiful gardens with flowers and colors we have never seen before. Things God saved only for heaven. Everyone is happy and full of love. Laughter, singing and praising fill the air, which is always at a comfortable 75degrees with a gentle warm breeze. I can see my loved ones happy and healthy again. They are all perfect. No more suffering with the pains they had here on earth. Any imperfections are gone. Legs work, eyes see , ears hear.

Then I think about Em. Some people look at her and see only imperfections. Where I see beauty they see ugliness. What does their heaven look like? When I think about Em being in heaven she doesn't look any different to me. She still has those fabulous blue eyes, and their perfect almond shape. She still has those adorable curved pinkies.

Some people would think I am crazy for even thinking my child go through an eternity looking like she has Down syndrome. Am I?

That's the face I love, that's the face that makes me cry with a joy I never new existed. That's the face that God molded in His hands just for her.

I'm sorry that everyone cannot see the beauty that we can in our children. I'm sorry that I didn't see it until God gave me Em.

I am overjoyed that my eyes we opened to this beauty while I was still here in this world. And my image of heaven could be made even better.

These are just my ramblings and in no way what to force my beliefs on anyone. I'm just thinking out loud here. I'm definitely not wishing Em or anyone else to go through an eternity with the difficulties that accompany Ds. Which God wouldn't allow anyway.
Who knows what heaven will actually be like. No one here can really answer that. Except to say that anything we, with our limited abilities can imagine , God will out do a million times over. We surely will not be disappointed.



24 comments:

Me said...

I agree 100% with everything you said. I think Kaia is perfect exactly as she is, and if other people don't see that, then they're missing out on something wonderful

Kristen's mom said...

I was almost offended when shortly after Kristen passed away someone said, Aren't you so excited to see Kristen in heaven for who she truly is? I bit my lip and after this person left my house I said to Richard, Are you kidding me?
I already know who Kristen truly is! Why would she be any different in Heaven. I know her eyes, her smile, her countenance, her sweet spitit, her rockin personality. I highly doubt that she will be much different. And as far as looks, She was beautiful here and she will be beautiful there. There is something to all of our children looking alike. They are a special bunch here and I know there they will be even more special. I see Kristen in heaven just as she was here. A bit of heaven on earth. That is what we all have. and aren't we blessed. I just had a thought... our children are perfect. Aren't we all going to be perfected when we get to heaven? If our children are perfect here then I say when we all get to heaven and become perfected we might all be surprised to see that everyone there including us will have those same darling features we find in our children with Down syndrome.

Sara P said...

i love this post:)

Runningmama said...

Love this post...I always say to my husband that I believe my little Emily is stunningly beautiful, like no one I have ever seen...I am pretty sure that God has opened my eyes in a new way so that I could witness her beauty here on earth...and I see Emilia the same way...she is beautiful, there's no doubt about it!

Kelly said...

Thanks for sharing this post, Stephanie! I couldn't agree more! I share Kristin's moms' feelings too, I like to thing of our kiddos as a little bit of "heaven on earth"!! BEAUTIFUL & PERFECT=)

ch said...

I've always thought Luke 18:16 applied directly to LC & Jace and all of those children like them. Who is more able to come to Jesus like children than MY children?
I am absolutely positive that if I brought my children before Jesus and asked him for healing that I would be the one he laid his hands on.
I love the role my squibs play as chubby portholes to heaven and look so much more forward to being there after the daily glimpses they have shown me.
Great post, as always...xoxox

Tina said...

Just today I was sitting and thinking to myself " my God how I love this little girl of mine" I can't even express it in words how I was feeling, just how beautiful she is and how absolutely perfect, so I can totally identify with your post and I couldn't agree more. Our children are not just perfect but they have something in them that more of us so called "normal" people should have a little bit more of.

Rochelle said...

Great post Stephanie! We agree our kids are perfect just as they are.
In fact, in Psalm 139 it says, For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb.
I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.
My frame was not hidden from you
when I was made in the secret place.
When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, your eyes saw my unformed body.
All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.

I love these verses as God clearly tells us he made each of our children exactly as they are supposed to be. God doesn't make mistakes as some people might think ds is.
Heaven is perfect and our little pieces of heaven are a blessing from God.

Amy Flege said...

what a wonderful post :) our kids are perfection in every way!

The VW's said...

Beautifully written! I have to agree with you! When I look at those who were born with Ds, I see absolute perfection! It's not just how they look, it's how they radiate goodness!....Goodness that most of us can't even begin to demonstrate! They represent what I wish I could be!

Love and Hugs!!!

Becca said...

Oh, I know that heart-swelling feeling SOOOOOO well...it's hard to catch my breath sometimes. Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful.

Jeana said...

Amen to that! Beautiful.

Lacey said...

We were just talking about this! How can anyone think they are anything but perfect? They don't think negative thoughts, they rarely fuss. Always big smiles for everyone. If only we could be so perfect!

Heather said...

Perfect beyond words.

If only everyone could see that beauty with the clarity we do.
I recently had someone say to me,as they were watching Zoey scoot around,"poor thing".I was so taken aback.I said,do not feel sorry for her.Or me.Or us.She is perfect and beautiful and we are blessed.

Beautifully written Stephanie.

Denise said...

Oh man....now I am crying!! I can't believe you can even call this post "a rambling of your thoughts". This is written so beautifully! I was completely swept in to the vision of heaven. I totally "get" what you are saying. I think our kids are SOOOOO incredibly beautiful!!! I seriously do. And I love what you wrote about being sorry that you didn't see it before you had Em because I feel the same way. How come I didn't "get it" before. But I am so very glad that I get it now. I really feel like a chosen one sometimes.

Unknown said...

Shortly after my little Laynee died, we had someone say to us..."at least she no longer has Down Syndrome." Needless to say, we were horrified. Since then, many have said things to the effect. My response is that I think maybe everyone in heaven has DS. The word commands us to be like little children. We are to be joyful and loving and pure. There is not a person on earth that fits this description as well as those with DS.
I've also been known to tell people that "my Laynee did not experience any more of a tranformation than you will have." Maybe I am too harsh but I get tired of these comments and someone has to set these people straight.
Here is a post you might like about my beautifully perfect Laynee

http://lovinglaynee.blogspot.com/2010/04/beautiful-shades.html

Unknown said...

What an amazing post my friend! THat is what I think every day I go pick my baby up out of her crib, is how beautiful she is, she is perfection! You are so right!! I, too, didn't realize all of these things with such clarity until P was born...for that I am sad...I wish I would have seen all the beauty earlier, the beauty that their eyes hold showing us a little piece of heaven on earth. I hope one day, one day I can meet your little piece of heaven!

The Lehnick Family said...

Amazing post indeed...you had me looking into Heaven as well...I have had these exact thoughts and feel so blessed that I can see the perfection of heaven in Brayden everyday...Thank you for sharing this...OH wouldn't it be great if all of us could meet in ONE spot and share a HEAVENLY hug?

Cheryl said...

Beautiful!! I just love you :)

Loren Stow said...

Beautiful post!

Cory said...

This is the best post ever! When my guy was born I wasn't sad or mad about his DX or mad or sad for him. I just knew that we are all made in Gods image, and that meant my little perfect child as well, no matter what his earthly DX is. God designed him, and he is perfect for me, and he is perfect to me. :-)

patsy said...

this post was so touching and so true! we welcomed our maggie rae on may 17th, 2009 and our life is forever changed for the better...it is truly amazing our much magic is in that extra chromosome:) so glad i found your blog through ella grace's...our blog is www.missmaggierae.blogspot.com----hope you can come and meet maggie and her sisters!---patsy

Anonymous said...

I stumbled upon your blog somehow and Love it. My niece passed away less than a month ago, she was 29 and born with many challenges. I've tried to imagine her greeting all our loved ones in heaven and she is still the same in my mind. In my world she was the Best our family had to offer, no one could have been more perfect.

Carrie said...

Stephanie--I love this post!! Our little ones are truly a little bit of heaven on earth...I feel so blessed to get to be around the pure joy that Miss B (and others with Ds) radiate. I don't know what it is about that extra chromosome...but I'm pretty sure my little lady is a shoo-in for heaven and I'm inspired to be better so I can be there too.