Ellie the Elephant Learns About Heaven
By Bill Conley
America’s Favorite Children’s Storyteller
Moral
of the Story:
Love never ends, even when someone
we love goes to Heaven. When we lose someone special, God holds them safely in
His arms. Those we love remain forever in our hearts. Heaven is a place of
peace, joy, and everlasting love.
It is normal to miss someone and feel sad, but we can smile knowing they are
with God. When we remember their kindness, they live on through us. Faith
reminds us that goodbye is not forever; it is simply “See you later.” Love
reaches farther than we can see, all the way to Heaven.
In the gentle land of Savannah
Meadow, a young elephant named Ellie lived with her family. Ellie loved many
things, but she loved her Grandma Ellie most of all.
Grandma Ellie told wonderful stories
about faith and hope. She sang songs about God’s love and always ended them by
saying, “God made us to love one another, Ellie, and love never ends.”
Every evening, Ellie and her grandma
watched the sunset together. They talked about life, the stars, and how
beautiful Heaven must be. But Ellie was still little, and she never really
understood what Heaven was.
One morning, Ellie’s mom came into
her room quietly. She sat beside her and held her close.
“Ellie, sweetheart,” she said softly, “Grandma went to be with God in Heaven
last night.”
Ellie’s eyes grew wide. “What do you
mean? Where is she? Why can’t I see her?”
Mom’s eyes filled with tears, but
she smiled gently. Heaven is a special place where God brings those He loves
when their time on earth is done. Grandma’s body is no longer here, but her
spirit, her love, and everything she taught us live forever with God.”
Ellie’s heart hurt. “Will I ever see
her again?”
Mom nodded. “Yes, my love. One day, when our time here is done, we will all be
together again in Heaven. There, no one ever hurts or gets sick, or grows tired.
It is a place of peace, joy, and love.”
Ellie didn’t say anything. She just
cried. Mom pulled her close and whispered, “It is okay to be sad. Missing
someone means you loved them very much.”
That afternoon, Ellie sat under the
big tree where she and Grandma used to tell stories. The wind rustled the
leaves and made a soft whispering sound. Ellie thought she could almost hear
Grandma’s voice saying, “I love you, my little Ellie.”
Tears rolled down Ellie’s cheeks,
but then she remembered something Grandma once said. “When you see a butterfly,
think of it as my hug flying from Heaven.”
Just then, a bright yellow butterfly
floated down and landed right on Ellie’s trunk. She gasped and smiled. “Hi,
Grandma,” she whispered.
The butterfly stayed for a moment,
then fluttered away into the sky. Ellie watched it until it disappeared into
the clouds.
That night, Ellie and her mom looked
up at the stars. “Mom,” she asked softly, “Can Grandma see us from Heaven?”
Mom smiled. “Yes, sweetheart. I believe she can. God lets those in Heaven see
the ones they love on earth. Grandma is proud of you and loves you still.”
Ellie nodded. “I think she’s the
brightest star tonight.”
Mom hugged her. “I think you’re right.”
In the days that followed, Ellie
missed Grandma. But she also found little reminders of her
everywhere.
She saw Grandma’s favorite flowers
blooming near the river.
She smelled her favorite tea when Mom made breakfast.
She heard her favorite song sung by the birds in the morning.
Every time she noticed one of those
things, Ellie whispered, “Hi, Grandma. I love you too.”
One Sunday, her family went to
church. The pastor spoke about Heaven and said, “Heaven is a perfect home that
never fades, where we live with God forever. When someone we love goes there,
we don’t stop loving them, and they don’t stop loving us.”
Ellie’s heart felt warm. She
realized Grandma’s love wasn’t gone; it was still all around her. It was in her
heart, in her memories, and in the kindness she could show others.
That evening, Ellie sat with her dad
and said, “Dad, I think I know what Grandma would want me to do.”
Her dad smiled. “What’s that, Ellie?”
“She’d want me to keep loving people the way she did. To be kind, to help
others, and to tell them that God loves them too.”
Dad’s eyes glistened. “That’s
exactly what Grandma would want.”
From that day on, Ellie made it her
mission to do one kind thing every day, just like Grandma did.
She helped a bird find its nest.
She shared her lunch with a friend.
She hugged her mom extra tight.
And every night, before she went to
sleep, Ellie looked up at the stars and whispered, “Goodnight, Grandma. I’ll
see you again someday.”
As she drifted off to sleep, she
felt a warmth in her heart, soft and gentle, like Grandma’s love wrapping around
her from Heaven.
Because now Ellie understood what
Grandma had always meant when she said, “Love never ends.”
Poem:
When someone dear has gone away,
Their love remains with us each day.
In songs, in stars, in skies above,
We feel their never-ending love.
For God holds them close, safe, and near,
Their whispers linger, calm and clear.
Though we can’t see them face to face,
Their love still fills this sacred place.
💬 Thoughtful Questions for Kids and Parents:
1.
What did Ellie learn about where her
Grandma went after she passed away?
2.
How did Ellie know that Grandma’s
love was still around her?
3.
What are some kind and loving things
you can do to remember someone special who has gone to Heaven?
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