Plot
Suffering from a shattered leg, a cancer scare, and kidney stones all in the course of seven months really took a toll on Todd Burpo. On the family trip to celebrate being past the troubles, Colton contracted what they believe to be the stomach flu. It passed after a day, but came back worse than ever a couple days later. Colton's health worsened so much that Todd and Sonja felt that they should take him to the hospital where his condition continued to become worse. Todd and Sonja transfered him to another hospital and the doctor discovered that Colton's appendix burst. He was rushed into immediate surgery to fix Colton's internal damage. The surgery was successful and Colton recovered abnormally quickly. Just as the Burpos are in the elevator ready to leave, Dr. O'Holleran received blood tests indicating that Colton needed another surgery. Again, the surgery was successful and the whole staff was amazed by how quickly Colton recovered.
After the surgery, Colton's behavior was a bit unusual and the bills were beginning to pile up. Colton noticed this and insisted that his parents pay Dr. O'Holleran first because Jesus used Dr. O'Holleran to save Colton. A few weeks later Todd went to pray with a family at the funeral of the family's grandfather and Todd took Colton with him. Colton freaked out when he sees the casket asking if the man had Jesus in his heart. Todd had to remove him because Colton was making a big scene asking if the man had Jesus in his heart. Not long after that, Colton mentioned sitting on Jesus' lap and hearing the angels sing to him. Todd and Sonja were very confused, they assumed that Colton had a good dream or was learning a lot at Sunday school. Then Colton mentioned seeing his unborn baby sister that Sonja miscarried a year before he was born. This validated Colton's story that he really did go to heaven because neither Todd nor Sonja ever mentioned Sonja's miscarriage. In the same conversation, Colton told them that he met his great-grandfather who died thirty years before Colton was born. Colton also described heaven as having beautiful rainbow colors and he said that he saw the throne of God. These exact same descriptions are also found in the Bible, but those stories had never been read to Colton nor could he read at the time. Colton told his dad how much Jesus really loves all the children. Todd and Sonja also welcomed another little boy named Colby Burpo into their family during this time.
Ever since Colton first said that he saw Jesus, Todd and Sonja tried pointing out pictures to him to find out what Jesus looked like. None of the pictures they pointed out over a few years looked like Jesus. One day Todd showed Colton the portrait painted by Akiane Kramarik, a child prodigy who had visions of heaven and Jesus and painted them. Colton's reaction was one of delight, proclaiming that it was Jesus' face. This identification of the face of Jesus painted by a girl whom he had never met validated Colton's story to anybody who doubted him. The last thing that happened in the book is Colton described the Battle of Armageddon, a spiritual battle between Jesus and the angels versus Satan and his monsters. Colton nonchalantly said that Todd fights in the battle because Jesus asked him to fight and that Jesus and the angels come out victorious over the devil.
After the surgery, Colton's behavior was a bit unusual and the bills were beginning to pile up. Colton noticed this and insisted that his parents pay Dr. O'Holleran first because Jesus used Dr. O'Holleran to save Colton. A few weeks later Todd went to pray with a family at the funeral of the family's grandfather and Todd took Colton with him. Colton freaked out when he sees the casket asking if the man had Jesus in his heart. Todd had to remove him because Colton was making a big scene asking if the man had Jesus in his heart. Not long after that, Colton mentioned sitting on Jesus' lap and hearing the angels sing to him. Todd and Sonja were very confused, they assumed that Colton had a good dream or was learning a lot at Sunday school. Then Colton mentioned seeing his unborn baby sister that Sonja miscarried a year before he was born. This validated Colton's story that he really did go to heaven because neither Todd nor Sonja ever mentioned Sonja's miscarriage. In the same conversation, Colton told them that he met his great-grandfather who died thirty years before Colton was born. Colton also described heaven as having beautiful rainbow colors and he said that he saw the throne of God. These exact same descriptions are also found in the Bible, but those stories had never been read to Colton nor could he read at the time. Colton told his dad how much Jesus really loves all the children. Todd and Sonja also welcomed another little boy named Colby Burpo into their family during this time.
Ever since Colton first said that he saw Jesus, Todd and Sonja tried pointing out pictures to him to find out what Jesus looked like. None of the pictures they pointed out over a few years looked like Jesus. One day Todd showed Colton the portrait painted by Akiane Kramarik, a child prodigy who had visions of heaven and Jesus and painted them. Colton's reaction was one of delight, proclaiming that it was Jesus' face. This identification of the face of Jesus painted by a girl whom he had never met validated Colton's story to anybody who doubted him. The last thing that happened in the book is Colton described the Battle of Armageddon, a spiritual battle between Jesus and the angels versus Satan and his monsters. Colton nonchalantly said that Todd fights in the battle because Jesus asked him to fight and that Jesus and the angels come out victorious over the devil.