When my daughters were little, we went on a vacation to Walt Disney World. I can still remember walking down Main Street in the Magic Kingdom, and seeing the wonder and excitement in our daughters’ eyes, as we approached Cinderella’s Castle. Still a child at heart, I also felt that excitement. In a way, the moment seemed surreal, as we looked up at the beautiful white castle with its mystical charm. I remembered thinking to myself, “This is what I could envision Heaven looking like,” recalling what Jesus said about God having a mansion with “many rooms”.

Once we were inside the Castle browsing through the Gift Shop, we made a family rule that if we ever got lost from one another, we should go back to the Castle and meet in the Gift Shop. It seemed the logical place to meet. No matter where you are in the Magic Kingdom, you can always find your way back to the Castle.

Weeks later, after we returned home, I would tuck my girls into bed at night, and wanting to keep the memories fresh from our wondrous vacation, I encouraged them to close their eyes and think about the Magic Kingdom, and maybe we could try to all dream the same dream and return to the Magic Kingdom together in our dreams. We agreed that if we dreamed that dream, we would meet each other at the Gift Shop in the Castle. I’m not sure we ever did really dream that dream in common, but it was fun to imagine.

Later on, I was reflecting on that sense of being in Heaven as I looked up in awe at the beautiful Castle. I told my daughters that I can’t possibly imagine what Heaven is really like, but when we get there, let’s look for the Castle, and we’ll meet in the Gift Shop. I know, that sounds silly, to think of Heaven with a Gift Shop, but that’s where we’ve agreed we’re going to meet when we get there.

I didn’t make the connection until recently, but my mom actually worked in a Gift Shop. She worked as a volunteer for 15 years, wearing a pink uniform, at a nearby hospital. This was something she cherished. She especially loved decorating the gift case. Unfortunately, over this past year, her health rapidly started declining and she had to stop working in the Gift Shop. This was heartbreaking to her. Now, terminally ill with cancer, there is no possibility of her returning to the volunteer work she loved so much.

Tears welled up, as I realized that maybe, just maybe, she could return to the Gift Shop.

What if Heaven really did have a Gift Shop?? That actually WOULD be Heaven for HER! In fact, I know without any doubt, that if Heaven did have a Gift Shop, that’s exactly where she’d be. I told my mom this story, and she agreed this is where we’ll all meet. She’ll be there soon, and she’ll have on her pink uniform again, and will be decorating the gift case. And she will truly be in “Heaven.”

I’m already looking forward to the day when I meet her there, along with the rest of my family, including those who are already there.

Sure, it may sound silly to talk about Heaven having a Gift Shop. Some day, when you get there, just look for it. I bet it will be there. It’s in the beautiful white castle, on the first floor.

It will have a beautifully decorated gift case with a delightful lady in a pink uniform standing nearby to greet you.

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