Something I get asked often by those who are bereaved, like you, like me is “Where are my loved ones now?” “Are they safe?” “Are they happy?” “Will I see them again?”I believe they are and you will, but what I believe doesn’t matter, it’s what you believe. It’s your belief alone that ultimately is going to answer those questions for you.
You might be scrambling about in the dark right now wondering what you do think about life after death. You will no doubt fall into one of these categories:
Yes with absolute certainty.
No, there is nothing after death.
I’m confused; I don’t really know what I believe.
Words linked to the afterlife you may hear and know are heaven, hell, a peaceful place, a sanctuary, the hereafter, kingdom, nirvana, paradise, eternity and Elysian Fields. There are others soul progression, lessons in life, reincarnation. Many of those words are linked to a spiritual foundation or a faith.
It is often the loss of a loved one and the very questions that we ask above which become the triggers for exploration and lead us on a quest to find out more. I did just that and continue to explore my belief systems and my spirituality in general. I would encourage you to do the same and go looking for the answers you seek.
I’ve read hundreds of books: Christian and spiritual texts, books written by mediums, psychiatrists undertaking past live regressions, near death experiences, angelic encounters, after death communications and much more. It’s stretched me beyond what I knew or believed and strengthened my spiritual foundation, my belief that yes; my son is safe, is happy and is beyond the suffering that we are experiencing here on earth.
I may not know with certainty, none of us really do, but I choose to believe that. It gives me a great deal of comfort. It gives me hope. It gives me peace in my heart but more it sustains me through my darkest days. There are always dark days. Although my life is full and happy now the loss of my precious son’s physical presence always sits within me, alongside my life and always will. There are tears and there are sad days. My belief doesn’t make those go away, it helps me to deal with it.
One of the books I did read very early on was Heaven Is So Real by Choo Thomas which describes her Christian faith and visit to heaven. You know now I can’t even recall where I borrowed it from but there is one thing from that book that will never leave me. She described the flowers in heaven, the colours as being bigger and brighter than here on earth. Just prior to my reading that book I received a “message” from my son. Guess what he spoke of….flowers. He said I would like it where he was, there were so many flowers, and they were bright, so very bright and colourful. That is why I remember that book and that passage. It was an affirmation yet again that yes, he was safe.
So there is much to ponder. If you are already of a strong belief and faith, that alone may already guide and support you greatly through your pain. If you are not, go exploring, go seeking, and go find what you are looking for.
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Maureen Hunter is a grief coach, bereaved mother, author and speaker. She is widely known for providing inspiration and instilling hope into the lives of many experiencing grief and loss. Her unique gifts lie in understanding the territory of grief and insightfully helping individuals how to deal with grief and move forwards into their own “living after loss”. { 32 comments }
