After we got back from my uncle’s funeral last week, I thought how wonderful it was to see so many cousins and other relatives. I hadn’t seen some of those cousins in 28 years! Funerals often feel like big family reunions. I just love that so much, but then it hit me, that everyone gathers, but then they leave. I had the thought that my aunt would be going home to an empty house because her husband wouldn’t be there. I actually don’t know if it’s true. She does have six children, all out of the nest, and probably some if not all of them were going to stay there a few days, or maybe even weeks, I hope. Eventually, however, probably they will have to leave and return to their own homes. That made me feel sad. I know God is in the details, though, because the next morning, he led me to read this story in the Gospel Library app of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It’s called “Peace in the Shadow of Death” from the December 1982 Ensign magazine by Carol Jardine. In this story, the author, Carol, lost a husband to death. Before the death, he was prompted by the Holy Ghost to stop praying for him to be healed and to accept his impending death. Go read it here. It’s just so wonderful how God prepared her for this parting by prompting her to pray and read the Bible, which brought the Holy Ghost’s assurance and comfort to her, along with the feeling of comforting spirits from beyond the veil.

I love especially this part of the story:

“As I closed the scriptures and went to Lynn, his heartbeat was slowing down. I leaned over the bed, laid my head next to his, and held him in my arms. As I talked to him I felt that he heard me and knew of my feelings, even though he was unconscious. For a time I was desperately unhappy. I didn’t want to be parted from him, even for the rest of this life. Then I felt his arms encircle me, bringing me strength and comfort. The pressure of his arms was tangible, and I had to look at his arms lying beside him on the bed to realize that it was not his physical arms that were around me. At that moment, I sensed that we were not alone in the room, that other spirits were attending us.

“Finally, as I lay close to him, I felt Lynn’s heart stop beating, and I was surprised to find I was truly happy for him. The serene look on his face assured me that his sacrifice had been received with joy, and that he was at peace. I continued to hold him for a time, but then I realized that after his spirit was gone from the earthly tabernacle there was little reason to stay.” (from the story here)

I love that she was led by God to accept the death. Then, after her husband died, and she had the sudden realization that she would be going to an empty home and living alone, she then felt the same feeling of love, as if loving arms were hugging her, reminding her that she wasn’t alone because God loves her.

The story doesn’t end there! She was taught more from the Holy Spirit in less than a week later, when her mother died. If you haven’t read it yet, and are just reading my summary, again, go read it here. You will be glad you did! I can’t do the story justice by just my summary. It’s so sad that she lost her husband and mother within a week apart to death. I’m grateful that she learned the importance of following the Spirit, so she can let the Spirit guide her to have her godly desires. In this case, she could have had the blessing of talking to her mother one last time, but she missed it because she didn’t follow the Holy Spirit. After that experience, she resolved to follow the Holy Spirit more than ever.

That story gave me a lot of comfort that my aunt never need feel alone, and in turn, none of us never need feel alone. If we are standing with God, showing him that we want to do His will by drawing to Him with prayer, service, and reading His words, we can feel his Holy Spirit. We can feel all the fruits of the Holy Spirit: joy, peace, comfort, and love. If we miss opportunities to follow His Spirit, we can repent and turn to God again. What joyful news!