So there I was–on my way to heaven, ready to cross the threshold to the other side. God’s peace was so inviting, so welcoming.  Crossing over would be easy.  Just relax and let go. There was no fear in going home to Jesus. The battle on earth, by contrast, was raging fierce and chaotic.  Heaven looked good to me.

Then I had the impression that my trip to heaven could be a brief one.  I felt sorry about leaving my husband Jim alone.  To encourage him, I declared desperately, “I’m coming back!  I’m coming back!”

With that, both Jim and the dentist realized that I was leaving.  Alarmed, they began to call me back, telling me to stay.  I paid no attention to the dentist, who seemingly could not believe this was happening nor that it could be his fault.  He told his assistant, who was praying, to call 911.

Jim grabbed my hands, praying.  He got in my face, up close.  He spoke my name.  I opened my eyes.  Everything had faded to gray now–except for Jim.   His face shone brightly with love.  He was not sad or fearful, as I expected.  But full of faith and love, he insisted that I stay with him.  Stay alive.  “Patty,” he repeated in my ear.  “I  love you. It’s not time to go.  Come back.  We need you.”

Focusing on his face, I was deeply touched by his love.  At that moment, we made a heart connection.  And I decided to stay on earth and fight for life with Jim.  Heaven would have to wait.

The EMTs arrived and found me mostly unresponsive.  They drove me to the hospital emergency room, where I was treated for severe allergic reaction to septocaine.  After several hours treatment, I was out of danger.   The doctor released me to go home (to my house) to continue my recovery.

When we got home, Jim and I began to sort out what had happened.  Still groggy from the drugs, I told him about God calling me home, seeing the portal to heaven and how Jim’s plea with me to stay had made the difference.  We both realized how close I had come to death and how merciful God had been to keep me alive.  Praise the Lord of glory!

Life is so precious, so valuable, so temporary.  We need to thank God for each and every day He gives us on earth, filled with His hopes and blessings.

As happy as I was to be alive and in my own home again, I still had to wonder if I had gone against God’s will for my life.  Had I made a mistake by not going to heaven, choosing life on earth?  I came to understand later that God in His wisdom had planned and orchestrated the whole event.  He had inspired Jim’s love, which anchored me to earth.  We were closer than ever before.

“Jim’s love kept you alive yesterday.  I was ready to take you home.  You were ready to go.  But Jim’s love kept you breathing, fighting.

“The power of Jim’s love saved your life,”  the Lord explained.  “God’s LOVE shining through Jim saved your life.  Remember, his face was golden, lit up by faith and love.

“All things are possible.   Only believe.  LOVE never fails.”

LOVE never fails.                               1 Corinthians 13:8