Just because you leave a message on someone’s answering machine and they don’t call you back, that is no reason to think they don’t still love you.

I am amazed at the people who anguish because someone didn’t return their call. These sensitive people sit there by their phone waiting for a return call, thinking of all the unkind reasons why the person did not call them back. Some of these people even decide they will never call that person again.

Doesn’t the general public know that people who listen to their answering machine messages sometimes have a frisky thumb? (more…)

One (Heaven Admin) wrote a comment under the blog entry In India, the Love Shines Forth.

One’s comment was so deep, so simple and so succinct, that, by reading it, I was raised higher.

I am always amazed at how words can do so much – when they are only words — and I am amazed every time when I see that simple words are the most powerful of all. But, of course, words have meaning, or perhaps it isn’t the meaning at all but the consciousness of the writer. (more…)

I can’t be the only person in the world who cries watching GODSPELL. I just don’t happen to know anyone else who does.

What an effect this movie had on me twelve or so years ago when I first saw it and watched it spell-bound for about thirty-five times. I told you about this in the Story of Heavenletters on the web site.

When I saw GODSPELL again yesterday on Turner Classic Movies, it did it to me again. I credit the music, the innocence, and the spirit of the movie.

This is not one of those movies about the Life of Christ that play the solemn serious music. In fact, the movie and music are playful, and the people become like little children. (more…)

Dear Microsoft,

I may owe you an apology.

Here is a delightful Yiddish proverb that applies to so many situations and people. To other people, of course, not to me, never to me, and probably not to Heaven readers either.

Here is the proverb: (more…)

I have wondered all along why I have had this so strong impulse to write about my brother Sid. I could only think it was to heal what was between my brother and me. Now I wonder what was between my brother and me. I cannot seem to get off the subject.

Since writing the previous four parts, I have had some needed insights.

All these years I have been thinking how much I loved my brother. Certainly, I was attached to him and to my memories of him, the happy and unhappy. Certainly, I did long for repair and a return to the golden days. But did I love my brother? Did I really? I thought I did. I loved the picture I once had of him. I loved how he was always there for me when he was. But did I love him when he was not? (more…)

And now to The Hiding Place by Corrie Ten Boom.

To tell about Corrie, you have to know about her family. Her family followed the teachings of the Dutch Reformed Church. This family, everyone in it, LIVED their faith. They were always conscious of their lives as service. The father was a watchmaker, but his family life was so entwined with God, over the years I kept thinking of him as a minister.

I can’t imagine (more…)

Dear God, please settle my mind on this question.

My former in-laws. A VERY long history of nastiness, anger, distrust, and lies. Really nice to use those words in regards to your child’s gtrandparents, but it’s the way it has been for a long time.

They blame me for their son’s death. (more…)

Before I knew anything about the power of forgiveness, I saw a beautiful example of it. Actually, it wasn’t even forgiveness. The person involved just saw a need to give love and had no perceived need to forgive.  (more…)