Talking to the Dead

April 10, 2024

A young woman, I will call Carley, waited for the right fellow to come along, and he did. But before he asked her parents for her hand in marriage, her mother suddenly died. Bereft, she could not accept the engagement ring from her fiancé Russ (I will call him). Though she had her father's blessing, she did not have the blessing of her Mother. She said, "I just can't go through with a marriage if my mother has not given her blessing."

Russ and Carley's father tried to convince her that her mother would have approved, but she was doubtful she could go through with a wedding without her mother's blessing. She had unresolved grief as well as deep hurt, which had blocked her from continuing with much her life, not only her marriage. But the block was resolved amazingly.

In a long letter, Carley poured her heart out to her mother about her sudden death and how much she missed her. She spoke about how much she loved Russ and that he had asked her to marry him. She wrote, "I told Russ that I would love to marry him if my parents gave their unconditional blessing. Russ's eyes lit up because he knew you and Dad would approve.

But when you died, I had no way to tell you goodbye and could not get over losing you. I mourned you for months. But Mom, I want to take that step forward and spend my life with Russ. I love him so much. But I need your blessing. Please find a way to let me know you are smiling down on me, are happy for me and Russ, and that you give your blessings."

Carley took the letter to her churchyard, burned it, and buried the ashes in holy ground. She left the church grounds with a peace she hadn't felt for months and on the sidewalk, and as she did, something shiny caught her eye in a crack in the sidewalk. She picked it up and saw that it was a small rhinestone cross. She announced the lost object in the church newsletter, but no one ever claimed it. Carley, finally accepted that this was the sign from her mother that she had prayed for.

On her wedding day, Carley was walked down the aisle by her Dad, and around her neck, she wore the wedding gift from her mother that blessed her marriage to Russ.

Inquiry: Why would you think this was just a coincidence?

Dear God,

For this story and the many I have known, such as this beautiful one, I give you thanks.

Amen.

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