My husband and I had recently moved to a new country with our six children, ages three to 16, and quickly fell in love with our adopted home. Between our work, caring for our children, trying to learn the language, and homemaking, my husband and I were plenty busy but also very happy.

When I became pregnant again, I was genuinely happy but also a little nervous about coping with the usual discomforts of early pregnancy when there was already so much else to be done. I’m normally healthy and active, but as this pregnancy progressed I got weaker and weaker and had to rest a lot more than I was used to. That gave me more quiet time with the Lord, but instead of seeing the blessing in that, I viewed my weakness as a big problem.

One evening, as I was helping to lead a Bible study at a friend’s home, I suddenly started having strong cramps and hemorrhaged. I was rushed to the hospital. Tests showed that the baby was fine, but I had lost a lot of blood. I would need to stay in the hospital until my condition stabilized and I regained some strength.

The next morning I hit an all-time low physically and emotionally. I couldn’t sit up or feed myself or do anything without help. It was embarrassing, frustrating, and humiliating. I hid under my blanket so no one would see me, and I started to cry. I made it through that first day, but what a day!

"Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him. But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God” (1 Corinthians 2:9–10).

Then that evening the most amazing thing happened. I looked up and saw Jesus standing by my bed, smiling down at me! He took me by the hand, and said He wanted to spend some time with me. My spirit left my sick, tired body behind, He led me out of the hospital room, and suddenly we were in Heaven together! We didn’t have to travel—we were just there.

There were beautiful plants all around, stars overhead, and soft, glowing lights. We were in a sort of outdoor pavilion surrounded by tall marble pillars, with a wide railing all around it. Beautiful, slow, romantic music was playing, and He held me in His arms. For the longest time we rocked back and forth, like we were slow dancing. I didn’t even want to talk. I just wanted to rest on His shoulder. His hair was soft, and I kept running my fingers through it. It felt so good to be with Him! I think we talked a little, but I don’t remember what was said. He made me feel relaxed and calm, and I was overwhelmed by His love.

Some very sweet music began playing and He took a step back, as though He wanted to watch me dance for Him, so I did. Then He said the sweetest thing. Leaning against a pillar with His arms folded, watching me and smiling, He said tenderly, “I just love to watch you!” It didn’t matter that I was over 40, pregnant, and not a particularly good dancer. He couldn’t have loved me more! He was so natural and easy to be with, and I was having such a wonderful time.

Then suddenly it was over and I was back in the hospital bed, still tingling all over and thinking, Wow! It had been unbelievable, yet so real!

I didn’t tell anyone else about that experience for fear that they would think I had lost my mind. But after that, my outlook on my present circumstances became a lot more positive. The whole hospital experience stopped looking so grim, and I began to feel a lot more at peace.

The next day I was lying in bed and listening to a tape when Jesus suddenly appeared again. “I know you love to dance,” He said, “so come on!” I grabbed His hand, and off we went. It felt so good to be out of bed!

We were in the same pavilion, but this time there was a band playing the most gorgeous live music. There were also singers all around, singing all sorts of songs and harmonizing. We weren’t just rocking back and forth this time, but we were really dancing. I was shocked at what a good dancer He was! I guess I had never thought about that before, but He was just great!

At first we danced to some old ballroom numbers, and He knew all the steps. He held me close and laughed and seemed to be enjoying Himself a lot. We talked away, but He could also read my thoughts and would sometimes laugh at what I was thinking, like my being surprised that He could dance so well. When He laughed, it was never condescending but more like He was enjoying the things I was thinking. He had such a great sense of humor! I was very excited, and we were having so much fun.

At one point I remember thinking, Wait a minute! I am dancing with Jesus. He’s taking all this time with me, but He’s supposed to be running the whole universe! He must have a lot more important things to do!

He chuckled again, drew me closer, and whispered in my ear, “Remember, I can be in more than one place at a time!” Then He looked at me and smiled and added, “That’s one of the advantages of being the Son of God!” He was so funny! I laughed and laughed at some of the things He said.

He was so human and understanding. I never felt condemned in the slightest, even though He and I both knew how imperfect I was. He just patiently explained things, and then we would laugh and dance some more. When the dances got faster, He cut loose. Everybody around just loved to watch Him.

When I became enthralled by the music, He paused and said, “That’s why the kind of music you listen to is so important. It’s very important that it glorifies Me, because it’s a vehicle!” And I understood that He meant that music could actually transport us. I don’t fully understand it now, but it made perfect sense at the time.

At another point, a huge crowd had assembled to sing His praise, literally, and everyone was very excited that He had come to hear them. Up till then, the other people had all been in the background and I’d had Jesus pretty much to myself. I knew it wasn’t right to feel that way, but a wave of jealousy swept over me. He read my thoughts again, and gave me the biggest hug. He reminded me that I had spent the past 20 years trying to teach others to love Him too, and now I could see how wonderful it was that everyone there in Heaven did love Him. Again, He wasn’t the slightest bit condescending or judgmental—just wonderfully understanding. Suddenly I didn’t feel jealous at all. I stepped back and enjoyed watching others perform for Him and Him joining in. He soaked up their praises, as they soaked up His love.

Then another song began to play—very majestic! We all stepped back and He began to rise into the air. The song filled the air, louder and louder, and Jesus began to glow and became larger and larger, filling the sky. He was shining and was every inch the Son of God, Lord of lords, and King of kings. We were all singing, looking up at Him and marveling that while He is a Man and understands us so well, He is also King over all creation and sits at the right hand of God! It was overwhelming!

Tears were streaming down my cheeks when—boom!—I was back in my hospital bed.

I was flabbergasted. I had been to Heaven! I lay there, thanking the Lord over and over, and thinking about it again and again, trying to relive it. When my husband came, I was still so excited that I had to tell him about it—and he took it very well.

That was the last time it happened, but throughout the rest of my hospitalization and recovery, whenever I was tempted to get down, I would remind myself that all the pain and discomfort I was experiencing was worth it, because I had danced with Jesus. My bleeding eventually stopped, I began to feel stronger, and another ultrasound showed that the baby was fine. After five days in the hospital, I was able to go home.

Those spiritual experiences changed my life. I wish I could say that now I am everything I would like to be—unfailingly loving, kind, patient, and all sorts of great things—but that hasn’t happened. I’m still me and still have my share of faults. But it has helped me to look at things in a different way. Jesus is nearer and dearer than ever. I know He loves me in spite of my shortcomings, and that one day He and I will dance again!