When man became aware of good and bad, of Heaven and Hell, of darkness and light, he questioned God. "What is Heaven like, God?"

God sat down with man, in a quaint little garden, took in a big breath, and explained what Heaven was like to man. Man watched enraptured, not interrupting, and barely breathing. When God had finished with his description, man dropped his arms down at his sides, shook his head and mumbled, "It is all so grand and beyond anything I have here, around me, to compare with. I cannot envision the place of which you speak."

Man, seeing that God studied him with a perplexed look on his countenance. Fearing he had disappointed God, hung his head and moisture collected in his eyes. God stood, wiped debris from the back of his garment and walked over to man. He laid a hand on man's shoulder and said He was sorry He had not been able to convey the glorious nature of Heaven to man. Feeling disheartened that he had let his creation down, God turned and walked away from man.

Man did not move. He still sat there, head hanging down, arms at his sides. And a tear rolled off each cheek and fell to the earth below the boy. You see, this human was yet a boy. Not yet the man he would become. And though understanding came easily to the boy, more so than it might to an adult, the boy still needed a frame of reference when learning about the more abstract concepts. Especially ones that required a great deal of faith.

Several yards, now, away from the boy, God paused. A smile sketched across his face. The boy did not notice that God had stopped.

God held out his left arm, thrust his palm out before Him, and grinned. He was still facing away from the boy. God heard the boy sob, then God nodded. To Himself, He said, "I've something here, lad, that will best express to you what is most wondrous about Heaven. And here, also, is a bright light, contained within this vessel. No matter how dark your world. No matter how abysmal your thoughts. No matter how long the nights...The illumination contained within this receptacle will shatter the blackest black. This creation of mine will remain at your side through the lowest and the highest moments of your life. This creation embodies the virtues of Heaven and all the joys."

He turned back toward the boy, left arm extended. "Here," He whispered softly. "A slice of Heaven. Now, you will understand..." A sparkling dust gathered and swirled from the tips of God's hand, became substance, then bounded off, toward the boy. God canted his head and watched, pleased with Himself. Knowing the boy would wonder no more about what Heaven was like.

Gazing down at the soil beneath his feet, the boy saw a shadow fast approaching, loping straight for him. Before he could stand to flee, a pink tongue flicked across his fingers. A bushy tail thumped against his legs. And a mouth full of white teeth smiled up at him. Soft ears flopped back as the creature stared up into the boy's eyes. A private communication was exchanged between the boy and the creature. The boy giggled, bent down, and swept the animal up into his arms. The boy then regarded God, realization on his face.

"He is a living mirror of Heaven, and therefore, a mirror of me. Out of a great affection for the creature that reflects back so much of what Heaven is, and in so doing, he reflects back so much of what I am I have named him dog. Treat him well, for no other will be as true to you, nor teach you as much as this one small creature will... This precious bundle of puppy!"

Copyright © 2003 by Kathy Anne Harris
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