Death is a painful reality, particularly when it feels unfair or untimely. We may experience feelings of anger and confusion about how a loving God could allow suffering, especially in the absence of clear communication between heaven and earth. This leads to questioning our faith and how to believe in something intangible.

Previously, when my faith was shaken by a painful death, I received messages of comfort. After my 95-year-old mother passed, I was honored with not one but two spirit encounters.

Losing someone who has lived a long, full life brings a unique kind of grief — a complex mixture of sadness, acceptance, and gratitude — yet it doesn’t lessen the deep ache of their absence. No matter how old we are, losing a parent leaves us feeling like a lost child, uncomforted in our tears.

The first encounter occurred during Mom’s burial service.

On a warm fall day, our family gathered near the gravesite. With hearts heavy, we stood shoulder to shoulder, saying our last earthly goodbyes. A soft breeze began to stir, gentle at first, brushing against our backs and sending colored leaves drifting from the tree above us. As though demanding our attention, the wind grew stronger. I looked around, but no other leaves danced in the wind, and no other trees swayed. It was as if time had paused everywhere else but underneath our tree.

I looked toward the sky and felt a quiet heavenly presence encapsulate us. The wind that caressed my skin seemed to carry a deeper meaning: a gentle, divine caress. At that moment, I knew it was a sign. Mom’s spirit was there with us, comforting our broken hearts, whispering that she was at peace. Her love surrounded us, a tender reminder that she would always be with us, in every breeze, in every leaf that fell.

The first holiday without Mom was Thanksgiving. It had only been two months since she passed, and yet, I posted on Facebook about how blessed I felt that day. Of course, I missed Mom deeply, but I also felt the absence of Dad, who had passed in 2013. In a way, I felt it would have been selfish if I had mourned for my mother, knowing that she and Dad were reunited in heaven. Instead, I focused on feeling grateful for my memories and the blessings still around me.

But then, guilt crept in. Three days later, I found myself revisiting the words I’d written, wondering if I had somehow disrespected Mom by not acknowledging her passing. That night, my parents came to me in a dream.

In my dream, it was a typical day in my parents’ kitchen. Mom and I chatted while she moved effortlessly around the room, her energy and grace a refreshing sight I hadn’t seen in years. Then Dad walked in, sat at the table, and smiled warmly at me.

“Hi! I’m so glad you made it home!” I exclaimed. It felt as if time had folded back some 20 years. “Wow, you look great!” I was amazed. Mom and Dad radiated happiness. Though Dad didn’t speak, his smile filled my heart with a deep, unspoken warmth.

When I drifted awake, I thought, I can’t wait to tell Mom about this dream. And then as I reached consciousness, I remembered. Mom was gone.

In the second encounter, the comfort I needed came to me through my dad’s smile. It was a gentle, gracious confirmation that Mom and Dad were together, in their heavenly home, just as I had always imagined.

Through the painful loss of loved ones, I found that faith can be both tested and strengthened by the mysterious ways in which God reaches out to us. Whether through tokens of love, dreams, or profound moments of comfort, these experiences offer hope and the reminder that we are never truly alone. The messages I received confirmed my belief in God and the enduring connection to those who have passed. It is through faith, peace, and the grace of God that our loved ones remain with us in spirit, that we can continue to live, cherish the time we have, and embrace the beauty of life.

This holiday season, let us embrace the true meaning of Christmas and let us celebrate the love, hope, and boundless grace revealed through the birth of Jesus Christ. As the Bible reminds us in the gospel of John, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.”

May this timeless truth fill your heart with a renewed sense of wonder. Merry Christmas, and may the blessings of God, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit be with you always!