Trudy gets so many questions and stories of end-of-life experiences from Guideposts readers, we decided to make her responses a regular feature on her blog.
Hi Trudy,
I wanted to share a story with you about things that happen when you lose someone. I lost my mom, Jean Moore, on September 14, 2009. She lived with me the last eight years of her life and I was privileged to be her caregiver for that time.
The week after she passed, I went with a longtime family friend to visit her father, a retired Pentecostal minister. His first wife, who was a wonderful friend of my mom’s, had passed away many years ago. When Judy and I got out of the car, he started telling us of a dream he’d had the previous Sunday night. He said he was dreaming about his wife Edna and about her being in heaven. In the dream, God had given him a scripture in Matthew about all his saints going to heaven. He said he woke up at about 12:30 and went to look up the passage (although he knew it word for word).
Judy looked over at me and said, “Do you realize what he just said?” I was still in somewhat of a daze of grief, so she reminded me that that was when my mother had died.
“God is letting you know that your mom is with him!” she said. That was so comforting for me. I knew my mom was a Christian and, in her last days, everyone commented on her “being ready to go.” But for God to really let me know she was in heaven was even better.
Then to top it off, two weeks later, God and mom sent me a little white kitten, now named Angel, to comfort me!
I can’t wait to get your book and read your stories. I know that they will be comforting as well.
None of us knows what happens after a person leaves this world. I just can’t wait to get there myself to find out and to see Jesus and my mom!
Teeny Rains
Teeny,
Thank you so much for writing to me and telling me the lovely story about your mother. First of all, I know you fully understand what a divine gift it was for you to care for her the last eight years of her life. I know at times it had to be challenging; I had my mom and mother-in-law with me at the same time until they each died. I look back with very fond memories and gratitude to those days, just as I know you do.
It never ceases to amaze me, all the ways God lets us know he is near and that he cares so much about us. The intimacy with which he does this is so touching and humbling. He prepares hearts, each one differently, to hear his message and then shares it with someone of his choosing for his own purpose.
It brings to mind so many scripture verses that tell of God preparing one person to go blindly to another town only to be met by someone unknown to them whom he has prepared to fulfill his will through.
It can be overwhelming to grasp how God plans these experiences, with such perfect detail and timing. To know that he awakened a friend, at the very hour he took your mother home, with a distinct message about his saints in heaven is too beautiful for words. She was unafraid because she knew and loved God well.
Until you see her again in heaven, be at peace.
Blessings,
Trudy Harris
