Eric and the angel
Eric met an Angel on an Autumn evening. The Angel told him, "Eric, well done, good and faithful servant of God. It is time for you to live in the presence of God."
Eric said, "I love and respect God, but I don't want to leave my earthly life right now. I am needed here. Holly and I are young. My children Austin and Danielle are very young. They all need me and want me here. And I want to be here with them."
The Angel said, "I know. All that is true. But it is still the time."
Eric said, "I don't want to go. And if God takes me now, it's going to cause my family terrible pain. Why should they have to go through this? I want to keep things exactly the way they are. We're happy. And we have so much more to do together. And my parents - please don't make them go through losing a child. This is all bad for everyone. There is nothing good about it - it's only going to cause pain and problems. Why is this happening? I don't need to go now. I need to be here with my family. Don't take me now."
The Angel said, "Everything you said is true, Eric. We knew you wouldn't want to leave your family. We know you'd rather be there than anywhere, even Heaven."
Eric said, "Then why? Tell me what I need to do to get back."
The Angel said, "Eric, you lived your life to the fullest. You showed love, kindness, and respect for people. People will stop and think of you, time and again. They will think of your example. You have made a difference in the world with your life – which will go on and on in so many ways."
Eric said, "I'm glad that God thinks I showed love to others, because that's the kind of person I wanted to be. But that's not what matters most now. I just want to be with my family for as long as possible. They need me, too. What can I do to change this? I need to go back."
The Angel said, "And your family, their love for you is so strong that you can feel it all the time, just as yours is for them. They will feel your love, too."
Eric said, "You're not telling me how I can change this. You're not explaining to me why this is happening. What about my family? We had no warning about this. Austin and Danielle are so young. Why should they be without their Dad when we were so close? And what if this is too hard for them? What if they get angry with God for taking me away from them? I'm not even there to explain this to them. My family doesn't deserve this. Holly doesn't deserve this. We have so many plans and dreams. I will do whatever it takes, just let me go back to my family and be on earth longer."
The Angel said, "They don't deserve this. And it will be hard for them. We know that. That's because you are so important. That's because they love you so much. If they feel angry with God about this, it's understandable. That would only happen because of LOVE - how much they love you and always will. It all comes back to love, Eric. It's not my place to explain why this is happening. God will explain it."
Eric said, "There is no explanation that matters as much as being home with my family. I want to go back."
The Angel said, "We knew you would feel this way because God knows you and your heart. You want to continue loving and helping your family, to be with them right now, just like before. It all comes back to love. That's why you want to be there with them more than any place else, heaven or earth.
"Eric, you already know that a thousand years is like a day, and a day is like a thousand years here. You will be with your family again, but for this season, you will be close to them from Heaven. You'll be closer to them than most people who come to Heaven, because of the deep love that is already in your heart.
"God knows how much you cherish your family, Eric. He knows that you must stay close to your family or it won't be Heaven for you. You will still love and guide your family. You will still help them; you'll give them wisdom, strength, comfort, and most of all, your love. Your family will feel you close in their hearts. And remember Eric, you will all be together again with joy.
"So you can keep loving them, Eric. Your family needs your love, and they will always have your love. Love lasts forever. Your love for them and theirs for you surrounds all of you, and keeps you all close. Nothing will change it; it will grow stronger each day."
Eric didn't change his mind. He still wanted to go back to the way it was before. The Angel held Eric close for a long time, and Eric felt some of the powerful love of God. Then the Angel said, "Now let me take you to God. He wants to answer all of your questions, and you will feel so much better from the moment you are with God. I can't explain it. I can just tell you that when you are with God, you will understand that everything is going to be all right." And Eric and the Angel went together to see God.