It has been a hectic month for the writing team of Moore, Moore and Moore. We have been making room for a new addition to our team who will arrive soon. So we decided to have a staff retreat and spend an evening at the circus.

At first, just Titus the Honorable and I were going. Then Cohen the Goodhearted heard about our plans, and he hadn’t seen a circus in all his 3 years of life. After that, Grammy, Mom and Dad got in on the act along with Sarah, our foreign exchange student from Spain. In all, seven of us went to the circus.

We sat there in awe as we watched the Human Cannonball shoot across the arena and land safely in the net. Then the beautiful Kazakhstan horses came out, and the riders performed acrobatics as they rode around the arena.

Watching the young boys react to each act put a smile on my face. Their eyes widened as the elephants and dancing bears performed. During intermission, we were able to go down and see the animals and meet the clowns and other performers, and both boys got to ride on a camel (the last thing this Moore boy wanted to do). To top off the evening, we had some cotton candy, and each boy got to pick out a toy.

When the second half of the circus began, I looked over at Titus the Honorable. He looked like he was about to cry. His eyes were puffy and red, and a single tear ran down his cheek. As he began the sniffling sound that comes right before he starts to sob, I looked over at his dad and asked, “Is everything all right?”

“He wants to go to your house,” came the reply.

Then it dawned on me: Titus was having a good time and enjoying everything, but the circus was cutting into the time he could spend at our house. What brought him great joy was not circus acts but spending time in our home.

Dear Titus,

I had such a great time with you and your brother at the circus. We saw some amazing things, and I know you loved it when the extreme motorcyclists jumped from one end of the arena to the other. But while watching these amazing things, you had a longing in your heart for a better place, and that was Poppy’s and Grammy’s house.

I want to let you know that I identify with you. You see, Poppy’s world is very similar to a three-ring circus. People come, entertain us and then a few days later, they are gone. Like the circus, this life is nothing but one act following another.

As messed-up as it is, I do enjoy living on this earth. But like you, I long for a better place, one called Heaven. Jesus told me about this place. He said, “And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am” (John 14:3). While I am trying to make a difference in this world, I am also waiting for Jesus to come and get me.

Titus, my dear little friend, it won’t be too long before that day will come. It might be in 20 minutes or in 20 years, but it will come; that, He has promised me. You will be still be young and might be confused about this process called dying. When it happens to Poppy, just remember the night we went to the circus and you wanted to go to a better place. That day, I will have gone to my better place. So when the time comes, go ahead and morn for a season, but then be glad that Poppy has gone home. 

Just one more thing, my little friend; I want you to come too. You see, not everyone is going to get to Heaven – only those who have made Jesus their Lord and Savior. You are getting close to that day when you can understand the works of Jesus and how He came to this world to die for your sins and mine

Jesus offers us a free gift called salvation. Just as with any other gift, you have to receive it for it to belong to you. I pray that when you are ready, you will receive this free gift and follow Him with all of your tender heart.

When you do, you will be longing for a better place, and it won’t be Poppy’s and Grammy’s house. It will be where I will live forever: Our Father’s house.

Love,

Poppy