Glimpses of Heaven!

This morning I made plans to meet a friend for coffee.It was the only morning in the next couple of weeks that worked for both of us—8:30 coffee.

What amazes me is how God often moves ordinary moments into something awe-inspiring.

When I left today, I felt like I had caught a glimpse of what heaven might be like.

Let me explain...

I walked into the coffee shop and saw my friend, who had already ordered her coffee. Standing at the register was a family I recognized but hadn’t seen in nearly a decade. My oldest daughter went to middle school with the young woman who was there with her Mom. We exchanged hugs and a quick catch-up.

Then another wonderful woman walked in—someone I’ve had the joy of knowing through a Center for Women’s Ministry, and I had the privilege of connecting with her through training. She smiled big when she recognized me noticing her, and I gave her a big hug. As it turns out, she was meeting the very family I had just reconnected with at the coffee shop.

Then she noticed another woman sitting nearby and mentioned she had attended a concert with her the night before.

I turned to smile at the woman…

And right then the coffee shop door opened.

In walked my oldest daughter.

She came over and gave me a big hug, then smiled toward the woman sitting nearby. My daughter explained she knew her too, walked over to talk with her and so I walked over to meet my daughter's new friend. She began telling me what a kind-hearted daughter I have and how God has a call on her life to share him with the world (which i totally agree). She then shared how my daughter had helped her recently after a small injury by doing a few things to help her. She then walked over to her old middle school friend and her family... smiles and hugs.

The whole room suddenly felt full of joy, connection, and love.

Old friends. New friends. Ministry friends. Family. Stories. Smiles. Hugs.

It was like joy was swirling everywhere!

After saying goodbye to my daughter, I went downstairs to sit with my friend and hear all about the beauty of her current life season and the joy it’s bringing. Of course time flew as we more deeply caught up, laughing and crying, and sharing our lives with one another. Such a gift love and life is through the seasons.

All day long I’ve been smiling, thankful for the opportunity to reconnect with so many familiar faces, meet new ones connected to my life through my daughter, and seeing how truly connected we all are!

And a thought kept echoing in my heart: Isn’t this a little bit like heaven?

Walking into a place prepared for us.

Seeing loved ones we haven’t seen in years.

Reconnecting.

Meeting friends of friends.

Sharing stories of life, of prayers prayed and sacrifices made, and discovering how all our stories are beautifully connected because of Jesus and His way of weaving our lives together.

Hearing about the seasons God has walked each of us through.

Joy everywhere.

I thought about the amazing people I’ve loved who are already there.

I imagine seeing them again.

Hugging them.

Sharing stories.

Catching up on all the ways God moved in our lives.

And most of all…seeing Jesus face to face... the One who loved us so much that He made a way for us to be there!

I truly can’t think of anything more wonderful.

Today felt like a tiny glimpse of what is waiting for us in eternity.

And it reminded me how deeply God loves us... that He made a way through Jesus for us to experience fullness of joy and life forever.

Time is short.

Life is a vapor.

Minutes turn into decades and a lifetime passes in the blink of an eye.

Oh that we would choose life. Eternal/Abundant life.

Friends…choose Jesus.

And maybe one day we’ll walk into heaven’s gathering place, see one another across the room, and say,

"I’m so glad you are here!" With love and Joy, Traci Jo