Heaven Is for Real Essay

Sadness, happiness, excitement, joy, and astonishment are only but a few of the emotions you will endure sequence variant the book Heaven is for Real, the amazing story of a brave and eccentric little boy named Colton Burpo. In March of 2003, what pay heedmed to be a seemingly normal family trip turned into a terrifying fight for Todd and Sonja Burpos little boys life. Even l ingestr on months of injury and illness within the Burpo family, Coltons incident tops them both. The strength of this little boy, even at the young age of only four, is truly inspirational.This book truly portrays the crazy days, weeks, months, and even historic period that follow the frightening experiences that this family had to go through. In February of 2003, the Burpos limit to take a family placeing. The Butterfly Pavilion is their destination of choice, and the family couldnt be all happier to begin away. later Sonjas miscarriage, Todds shatter leg, round of kidney stones, and hyperplasia a vacation is precisely what they need. The Thursday before theyre to leave, however, Colton isnt feeling well and had complained of a stomach ache. Their babysitter, Norma, calls Sonja at work to report a plunge in little Coltons sickness.After a trip to the doctor, the Burpos find that the stomach grippe is the cause of Coltons poor health. They see the fun-filled trip slipping away as soon as it had come, and nobody in the household is content. But, by morning, Colton is up and feeling well again the Burpos then set go forth on their adventure. They soon made it to the Crawl-A-See-Um right outside of Denver, and the kids jibe to see the umpteen tarantula exhibits. These draw Cassie and Colton Burpo in like magnets. The kids are easily amazed by the many eight-legged creatures, which shock the children with everything that they do.They soon see Rosie, the spider you can hold in exchange for a sticker. Cassie holds her, but Colton is afraid, so they make their way on through. Aft er visiting the many aquariums, they make their way to the butterfly pavilion. They see a monarch fly by, enjoying the beauty of the beautiful orange creature. Sonja, remembering the kids want to swim, insists they leave. As they walk by Rosie, Todd asks Colton if he wants to try and hold Rosie. Colton is positive that this time, he will do it. He ventures up to Rosie, holds her, and gets a sticker. He leaves feeling triumphant as they leave.After swimming, the Burpos head to the Old Chicago Restraunt in Greeley to eat with Pastor Steve Wilson and his wife. While sitting around the large, round booth, they talk about their churches and enjoy Italian food. Todd and Sonja decide to visit Pastor Wilsons church the next day, as Rebecca Wilson divides her time between the conversation and coloring with the kids. Coltons eery quietness isnt find throughout the dinner, until Colton makes a remark about his stomach again. They Burpos decide to cut the dinner short, after Colton and Cassie both decide they arent feeling well.Coltons statement comes true, as he throws up all of that darkness. Soon the next day, they decide to take Colton to the hospital. Could it be appendicitis? Sonja asks the doctor, reverenceing for bad vernals. Colton squirms, afraid of the IV as any kid would be. He assures her that the blood test dont show this, but they dont know what has happened. As Coltons health gets worse, Todd and Sonja refer for their son. Then the worst thing yet happened, the shadow of death. Todd sees it on Colton, and afterwards they decide to take Colton to the Great Plains Regional Medical Center.Calling ahead to allow the doctor know, they set out towards the center. Todd and Sonja blame each other throughout the whole trip, but when they reach the center and the doctor has gone to lunch, theyre out of people and reasons to blame. Fifteen minutes later, the doctor comes in and looks over Colton. They perform a CT scan, and send the Burpos into a secluded wait ing room. I speak out this is it, are the only words Sonja can muster out as she cradles Coltons limp body. Five tiresomely long minutes later, a Radioligist comes out to let them know Colton has a ruptured appendix and needs emergency surgery.They wheel Colton away on a gurney, preparing him for his surgery. He thrashes, screaming for his dad, as they put the IV in his arm. Anger flashes in Todds eyes, realizing that he may have waited too long and might not see his son alive again. He rages at paragon, assuming he is going to take his son before he had the time to even live. After the surgery is over, Todd is asked to come back. All the fear and anger leaves his eyes, when he is told that his son is conscious and has been asking for him. Todd and Sonja are amazed at how much better their son feels, looks, and seems.They are told, seven days after checking into the hospital, that they can take their son home. After packing the mulititude of toys and clothes, they go to leave. The elevators are sliding shut, when they are told they cannot leave. New pockets of infection show in Coltons CT scan, in his abdomen. Sonja, completely exasperated, has a breakdown. The church comes to pray with Colton shortly after, only praying for one simple thing gas. They are told that if Colton passes gas, that it would be a good sign. inside an hour, the prayer was answered. Colton felt better the next morning, and doctors were shocked at this miracle.After what seemed like forever, Colton and the rest of the Burpo family can last go home after this terrible event. After they go home, life seems to go back to normal. It wasnt until four months after Coltons surgery, on their Fourth of July trip, that they realize their son has witnessed something extraordinary. On their way, Todd jokingly asks Colton if he wants to go back to the hospital. The response he gets is far from what he expects, however. Colton proceeds to tell him that the hospital is where angels sang to him and he sat in rescuer lap.Todd and Sonja laugh it off, thinking Colton had imagined the whole thing. They continue to believe so, until he tells them exactly what they were soing, and where, during his surgery. He also offers more than than information, spread over the next years. Days, weeks, and months all came with new information. Did you know that Jesus had a cousin? Jesus told me his cousin baptized him, Colton informed his father one night. He tells his dad about a provide that he petted, Gods beautiful eyes and clothes, his crown, and Gods markers, nonchalantly one night, as if he were talking about what he ate for lunch.When Todd realizes that by markers, Colton means the nails in Jesus hands and feet, he knows that he cant be making it up. Todd and Sonja are amazed at all the things he knows all of a sudden. The normal nights come often, but the talks about supernatural phenomenons become spaced out. Colton begins to talk about his Pop, who died before Colton was born. He also tells his dad that he knows that Jesus told him to be a pastor, and when he agreed, Jesus was very happy. He also told his mom that he knows he had another(prenominal) sister, but she died in her tummy.He tells her that she looks like Cassie and is dark headed, like Sonja. He also says that she didnt have a name, because they hadnt named her yet. When Sonja begins to freak out, Colton explains that shes okay and that God adopted her. Colton also tells about Gods throne room, and makes one point in particular stand out God loves the children After Colby is born, they realize they have to hire a babysitter. They decide in a very mature for her age 8th grader, named Ali. All is well, until one night they come home to Ali crying.When Sonja asks her why, she says that Colton was crying and tells her why. Colton, after being put in bed, tells Ali that he misses his sister that died in mommys tummy. When he begins to cry, Ali holds him until he finally cries himself to sleep. This is nt the only serious thing Colton says about Heaven. One night, while at home, he tells his dad that the angels have wings to fight off Satan. He tells him that there is going to be a battle, and that Todd will have to fight in it. He also tells that he sees the power God sends his dad during church, while he preaches.Todd and Sonja now believe Colton more and more by the passing day. 2007 is the first time that the Burpos told about Coltons indifferent, to say the least, experience. Todd now found himself with more and more questions about Heaven and what his 4 year old saw. One char, in tears, approaches and asks if Colton might have seen her stillborn baby in Heaven. He asks the cleaning woman that if she believes that God loves her as much as God loves him, and if he loves her living son as much as he loves his living son, then why wouldnt he love her unborn child as much as his?At this moment, he knew that God had sent him the power to help that woman the same power Colton had claimed to have seen God shoot down. Years have passed since Coltons accident, but his story is and will be known for many more years to come. The amazing experiences that this family went through are truly touching, and this book portrays that beautifully. From cover to cover, its a book you will not want to put down. Coltons story is amazing, and as the nurse once told Todd Burpo, There has to be a God, because this is a miracle.