Losing a loved one can feel absolutely devastating. After they pass it is common to feel lost, hopeless, and empty. However, it does not always have to be that way.
This summer I lost one of my very best friends. At first, I felt lonely and heart broken. I could not wrap my head around the idea as to why God would want to take her away from us so soon. I thought about her every day, just trying to cope with the idea that I would never see her again. She was the brightest, happiest, kindest, and most beautiful girl in the world. She was my rock, the person who helped shaped me into who I am today.
For about 6 years she suffered from brain cancer, she never expressed to us how much pain she was in, but you could just tell. She never let the pain stop her, no matter what she always had a huge smile on her face. Happiness was something she was able to achieve every day, even though she was suffering. She would always talk about how ready she was to go home — meaning heaven. She said that God was ready to bring her home and have her with him.
On July 25, 2018, her pain and suffering came to an end. She was finally able to start her journey home. It was very hard to cope with the idea that I would not be able to share constant laughs and happiness with her. However, that happiness I shared actually did not disappear like I thought it would. One Sunday afternoon she was on my mind, so I decided I would head over to the cemetery to say hi. I was not sure where she was buried so I wandered around looking her. I searched for a little over an hour until I decided to finally give up. I sat down and decided that I would ask her for a sign to guide me to her. At the time, she was not able to find a way to help me find her. About 3 hours after I had left the cemetery her mother posted on Facebook that the gravestone was placed that day and where it was located. I felt chills throughout my body immediately because I knew for sure that it was her giving me a sign. I had no clue that the gravestone would be placed that day. It was like she was with me and guided me along the way.
From that point on it was clear to me that she had finally reached her home. She was happier than ever and so grateful. I could just feel it because from that day forward I had nothing but good days and I saw a sign from her almost everywhere I went. I knew that she finally had gotten what she wanted. She was finally able to live the peaceful life she deserved. I found peace in knowing that it was her time to leave the earth, I knew she was with me and everyone she knew every day. Her purpose in life just was not earthly, I have faith that she was put into everyone’s lives to help guide us every day on earth until we meet again.
I knew that my friend found the peace that she had always wanted. I did not need validation for it to be true. However, one night while mother was sleeping, she appeared to her in her dreams. She said, “Mom I have found peace”, and then she disappeared. There is no doubt in my mind that this was a coincidence. My dear friend was always one to let the world know what was going on, and she did just that.
Losing a loved one is very hard. It may seem tough to get through the dark time but, if you can find strength with accepting that they are truly in a better place, you can also find peace knowing they are truly always with you.
HCXO,
Elizabeth