We all want a bedtime story. We may be old but a bedtime story is our goal. It comforts us from the harshness of life. Often the Story seems more real than the brick and mortar of our lives.

‘Pull the covers up and fluff your pillow and I will read you a bedtime story,’ Neva J said to Billy B. ‘There was a kingdom of happiness and hope just over the river with a king who loved his subjects,’ she read. ‘The king had decreed that no one would suffer or be afraid in his kingdom,’ Neva J continued…

Chet, do you know where we are,’ asked Billy B with surprise and wonder? ‘Neva J was reading me a bedtime story and now we are here in this lovely place,’ he continued. ‘It looks like Grandma A is walking over the hill in front of us she turned around and beckoned that we follow,’ Billy B said.

‘The colors remind me of the old movies filmed in Technicolor where the hues were vibrant and seemed to plant themselves in your brain,’ Chet said in amazement. ‘I see Dad sitting on a boulder with a big smile on his face,’ Chet said with a tear in his eye.

‘I feel like I am beginning anew,’ Jane exclaimed! ‘I am no longer old and I feel like a kid,’ Jane continued. ‘My favorite Teddy Bear is walking by my side and he is talking with me,’ she laughed.

‘I took some giant grapes from a vine overhead and squeezed the juice into my wine glass and it is Merlot,’ Neva J noted joyfully. ‘I see your Dad with his motorcycle outfit on and he is standing by his Harley,’ she said wistfully.

‘Remember when we were young and all was possible,’ Daryl said. ‘I desire to paint En plein air,’ Daryl observed. ‘The Wiz is walking behind us he says that all of this is real should we choose to accept our mission,’ Daryl shared.

‘The landscape reminds me of the painting AP on my iPad,’ Chet said. ‘I have never seen such vibrant colors,’ he noted. ‘Is this Heaven,’ Chet asked?

‘Welcome newcomers,’ said Angel. ‘I have been waiting for you,’ he continued. ‘You have traveled far this land is your land,’ he continued. ‘Many find the colors a bit overwhelming at first but soon become acclimated to the kaleidoscope of shades, Angel said.

‘Are we dead and this is what awaits us,’ Neva J asked? ‘What I am seeing reminds me of what I saw as a child in a dream,’ Neva J said hopefully. ‘Grandma A and I often collected blackberries in the woods when we did not have anything to eat this is what the woods looked like to my young eyes,’ she said.

I like blackberries and blueberries also,’ Chet exclaimed! ‘My knees are not aching and my back feels strong,’ Chet said with amazement! ‘I feel like a kid again,’ Chet rejoiced!

‘This is the real life,’ The Wiz said. ‘Each of us has been observing the world through our own prism of our life events, we see our surroundings through our sufferings,’ he explained. ‘Meanness and cruelty have caused us to bastardize the gift,’ The Wiz noted.

‘I see children reading under the shade of a fig tree,’ Jane said. ‘There is no television internet or conspiracy theories only learning of God’s Grace,’ she laughed heartily!

‘Each of you travelers see this land as your faith has imagined it and colored by your ideas of God,’ Angel said with a benevolent smile. ‘You are all unique creations of a magnificent Creator,’ Angel continued. ‘No one experiences Heaven in the same way,’ Angel said with a wink. ‘One may see Frankenstein smoking a cigar and drinking a brandy while the other will see themself lying in a meadow surrounded by sunflowers it is God’s plan for his creation,’ Angel explained.

‘Are you saying Heaven is different for each of us and is customized for our tastes as unique creations,’ Billy B asked? ‘We are that important to the Creator that he has an individual plan for each of his human creations,’ he said.

‘Yes he told you that the hairs of your head are numbered why would he not have a specific plan for those he loves,’ Angel said. ‘Some of you eat chicken other fish and some are vegetarians…each of you has a specific picture of the perfect life,’ Angel said with certainty.

‘This is the best Merlot I have ever drank,’ Neva J said pouring a second glass. ‘Grandma A often told me of God’s unfathomability and his plan for us,’ she said. ‘He loves his children and we are all his children, she said with satisfaction.

‘Hit the deck you rubberneck,’ Neva J proclaimed as she did each morning! ‘You went to sleep before I could complete the Bedtime Story,’ she said.

‘Eye has not seen nor ear heard neither has it entered into the heart of man the things that God hath prepared for them who love him.’