Readin' & Writin' with author Lauraine Snelling

Readin’ & Writin’ with Lauraine...

October 2011

Heaven Is For Real - Reviewed by Lauraine Snelling I don’t usually review bestseller books. You note I did not say never, because I learned not to do that many years ago. Saying never, as in I never… just makes God laugh.

I have no idea how many people said to me, “You have to read this book, Heaven is for Real”. Since I’ve been on the road so much recently, I finally went to a bookstore in Minot, ND to autograph their stock of my books, and they had this bright yellow book sitting on the front table. Needless to say, I picked it up and started reading it that night. I try to read every night in bed just before I turn out the lights, I fall asleep more easily that way.

The line under the title reads, “A little boy’s astounding story of his trip to heaven and back.” Now if that doesn’t get your attention, what will? His father, Todd Burpo, assisted by Lynn Vincent, decided to tell Colton’s story.

It all started with what his mom and dad thought was the flu. But it wasn’t the flu, and even a visit to a hospital did not help. As Colton grew sicker, and the doctors were unable to figure out the cause, the Burpos took him to Children’s Hospital in Denver where he was diagnosed with a ruptured appendix complicated by severe infection.

As the medical professionals fought to clean out the infection, praying people gathered to help the family. Not until four months later when Colton was well again, did he begin to tell them about his trip to heaven, where he met the angels and sat in Jesus’ lap. He told his family of things that he could not have known as a four-year old child. Unless he had actually been there.

Of course I cried through parts of this little book, thinking of my own daughter, who went home to heaven before her twenty-first birthday. While the Bible gives us a lot of information about heaven, I think God sent us this little book, during this time of great chaos and fury, to remind us that something better is coming, that He has a plan and a place for us, and a little child shall lead us.

I am grateful to those who said, “You have to read this” and when I tell people about the greatest book I’ve read in a long, long time, so many are saying “I’ve already read it.” Then they go on to tell me what Colton's story means to them. Word of mouth is always the best advertising there is.

Fall is indeed here, and this year we are home to watch the ash tree by the driveway turn colors, beautiful deep reds and who knows what else is coming. The leaves on the liquid amber and the maple trees are also changing, making me glad for their glorious colors.

May we take time to enjoy the changing season and always find time for reading, be it by book or e-reader or audio. My latest release Valley of Dreams is hitting the bookstores this month. Join Cassie Lockwood, a Wild West show star, in her adventures to find the valley in the Black Hills of South Dakota that her father always dreamed of.

On to more adventures and until next time,

Happy readin’ & writin’ from Lauraine

P.S. Missed a recent Readin’ & Writin’ column? Click the month below to read the associated article!

Readin’ & Writin’ is a monthly column written by author Lauraine Snelling and featured in The Loop and Valley News & Views newspaper. If you would like to feature this column in your local newspaper, please contact Lauraine for more information!

Site designed and maintained by PulsePoint Design- Author Web Services