I don’t think so. And here’s why.
I started thinking about the Bible verse that says God wipes away all our tears. And that there will be no more sorrow in heaven.
To me, that means our loved ones there, aren’t grieving the fact that we aren’t there yet.
Then my imagination took over.
DISCLAIMER: I’m not a Bible scholar, and this post isn’t meant to start a theological argument discussion.
The Bible also says, that to the Lord, one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years is like one day.
I don’t know if that’s a literal or a figurative statement.
But my imagination kept churning. So I pulled out my math skills. (Which may or may not be accurate, but here goes.)
Invitation to a “flight of fantasy”
If you choose to accept, hold on tight. We’re going inside my mind.
WHAT IF:
1 day in heaven = 1000 earth years
THEN:
1/1000th (0.001) of a day in heaven = 1 earth year
And if I calculated correctly…
1/1000th (0.001) of an earth day = 1.44 minutes (about 1 minute, 26 seconds)
In this fantasy, I’m going to equate:
0.001 heaven day (1 earth year) = 0.001 earth day (1.44 minutes)
SO:
1 earth year = 1.44 minutes in heaven.
If I live on earth for 10 years after my loved one passes, that’s 14.4 minutes to them in heaven.
And most folks don’t miss someone they saw less than 15 minutes ago.
Even if I live for 50 years after they step into eternity, to them, they last saw me an hour and 12 minutes ago.
Then my writer’s mind brainstormed a snippet of dialogue from a loved one already there. It goes something like this:
“We’ve only got about 45 minutes before Joni gets here, so we better visit as much as possible now. I know we have eternity, but once Joni steps through the gate, it’s going to be a long time before we get a word in edge-wise.”
Back to reality
I won’t know if my fantasy premise, suppositions, and calculations are correct until I get to heaven.
It doesn’t matter.
What does matter, is that I believe God.
He wipes away all their tears and there’s no sorrow in heaven.
And as I said before, to me, that means they aren’t grieving us. Aren’t missing us.
I also know that for every person I love who’s passed, I’m grieving enough for both of us.
But when I can move past the grief for a moment here and there, and think about reality, I’m comforted that I’ll see them again.
When my last 1.44 minutes, and my grief, are over.
Prayers for everyone who’s grieving a loved one.
Is there a memory of a loved one you’d like to share?
Do Our Loved Ones In Heaven Miss Us? Is there a memory of them you'd like to share? Share on XJoni Vance is an award-winning author of fiction, essay, and poetry. She loves mystery, history, and how God reveals Himself every day.
May God reveal the mystery of His love in your life story.
Joni, what an amazing post! My brain couldn’t figure that out if it had to. This made me smile big! Hoping to see my sister in about 45 minutes! Think I’ll live that long?
So glad it made you smile. I know you’ll see your sister again. Date: unknown except to God. 🙂 Thanks for sharing.
Loved the post Joni! What a wonderful way to think about eternity.
Thanks for commenting. I don’t know if my thoughts are reality, but it was fun to dream it.
What a cool way to think about it!
Thanks. My flight of fantasy timing comforted me a bit. But of course, God’s promise is the only real comfort. Appreciate you reading and commenting.
I think if I were in God/Jesus’s presence I’d be too busy worshiping to think about those left behind. Now if I could influence an unsaved family member from my heavenly home to come to faith that would be a blessing. I cherish the memories and live for that time of reunion.
Thank you for sharing. Praying for everyone to find and follow God the way He wants them to. I look forward to heaven and making an eternity of memories. 🙂
Excellent blog, Joni! Your words gave me a new (and
comforting😊) perspective.
Thank you for sharing!
I appreciate your comments. It is comforting to know they don’t have sorrow. And to know that is God’s promise to us, too.
I LOVED this blogpost. It made me laugh out loud… very loudly. The trip through you mind was an adventure. You had some very wise ideas and calulations and I would not be surprised to find you are right:)
Thanks for sharing. Guess we’ll find out if I’m right in 45 minutes or so…. 😉
A nice reminder! This is my mother’s birthday. It has been almost 7 years since she left this earth. There are so many things I wish I could share with her!
Thank you for commenting and reading. And if I envisioned it correctly, we’ll have eternity to share everything with our loved ones. 🙂