Hello, God. It's me, Mara.

You know, Lord, many precious friends and loved ones have been called home in recent month — it’s almost like we’re missing the party but each departed friend is a magnet that attracts us to the next world.

When a loved one who knew Jesus passes away, our thoughts often wander to “the other side” as we wonder what they might be experiencing right now. With our limited knowledge and brief glimpses given in Scripture, we try to imagine the glories of a heavenly realm.

Heaven. Our parents and grandparents are there; aunts, uncles and cousins are no longer on this planet. They’r...