We went Thursday to a nearby church to hear Don Piper speak. What an amazing man. If you have not read his book, 90 Minutes in Heaven, you are missing a blessing. On his way home from a church conference in 1989, Don Piper’s Ford Escort was struck head-on by an 18-wheeler. He was killed instantly — pronounced dead by four sets of paramedics. But God worked a miracle and sent Don back to a broken body. To date, 34 surgical procedures have taken place. He walks only as a result of miraculous and in some cases medically unexplainable circumstances. During the time he was dead, Piper was granted the extreme privilege of glimpsing Heaven itself. He was in Heaven 90 minutes! To here him describe Heaven will bring tears to your eyes. If you miss your loved ones in Heaven, you will have such a peace when you read this.
There is a little personal connection with this book. Pat was reading it one night and called me into the living room and was so surprised. Here is what he read:
Once while I was still in the ICU, it seemed as if every time I opened my eyes and blinked, within seconds someone thrust a spoon filled with food about six inches from my mouth. "Just open up." One time it was a man's voice. I opened my eyes and stared. Holding the spoon was a burly man. He lifted my oxygen mask and gently poked the spoon into my mouth. "That's it, just take a bite." I obeyed and swallowed while my drugged mind tried to figure out what was going on. Slowly I realized that the voice belonged to Stan Maulden, head football coach and athletic director of the Alvin High School Yellow Jackets. Our daughter would live with Stan and Susan and their two children during my convalescence....That gentle act of sacrifice by a bear of a man was one of the most thoughtful acts I witnessed during my days of recovery. Stan epitomizes strength and tenderness combined in one exceptional person.
Stan Maulden is Pat's distant cousin. Isn't this such a small world?
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