Where is Heaven?

Last Saturday, Matthew went to a birthday party and came home with three balloons. One of the balloons lost its string, so I told him to kiss the balloon and send it to Heaven. He kissed and hugged his balloon and then cried when it floated to the sky. "I really miss Grandma Mary!"

Sunday, Matthew was thinking really hard about something. With a thoughtful look on his face, he says "Mom, where is Heaven?"

What a loaded question! How do I answer a question that I'm not entirely sure of? Matthew is a space buff (thanks, Jay!) and was thinking that it might be a planet somewhere on the outer extremities of the Milky Way. Maybe he would understand if I compared it to the Avatar: The Last Airbender's spirit journeys. When grandpa died, I told him that Heaven was like Disney World without the long lines. But anybody who's been to Orlando could verify that though it is many things, Heaven is not one of them. Besides, he didn't ask what it is; he asked where it is.

I explained "you know, I think that Heaven is wherever you want to be."

"Mom, maybe Heaven is in your heart."

Wow. What a thought provoking response from such a little person.

After a few seconds of silence (which is an eternity for Matthew), he finished: "No, probably not. It would be hard for everyone to breathe in there."

Indeed.