It was a cloudy afternoon in January, a warm Texas 70 degrees— five years, five months, and seven days after my beautiful son Brandon made his transition to heaven. He was 17 and taken by a sudden and ultimately unexplained illness.
My friend Sandy arrived on her bike to take a ride through a nearby park. I can’t tell you the last time I had ridden a bike. I excavated it from the garage, among skateboards, hockey sticks, an assortment of balls—relics of another lifetime, each with a story to tell— and made a cautious circle around the driveway, and then took off down the street with Sandy.
We pedaled to the end of the neighborhood, where a school bus was making its routine stop. As we approached the bus, a young boy about ten years old called out from one of the open windows. “Are you Brandon’s mom?” he asked, a wide grin on his face. I didn’t recognize him and wondered how he knew Brandon; maybe it was someone from church, I thought, but he was too young to have known Brandon. It didn’t matter. “Yes.” I smiled back. I could hear the sweet-sad sound of children’s laughter spilling from the bus. The boy appeared again at the window, this time waving his arms and laughing. “Hey, are you Brandon’s mom?” He motioned to someone beside him and added, “He says you’re his mom.”
It was then that I realized that another boy on the bus named Brandon was telling him I was his mom. (I remember it well . . . that kind of thing is a real gut-buster for ten-year-old boys!). I answered again, “Yes,” now in full appreciation of the prank. Sandy and I rode past the bus as the first boy shouted after us, “He says he loves you!” “Thank you!” I called back. Then I whispered to heaven, I love you, too.
Sandy was laughing out loud, aware of the magic that had just happened. “How’s that for a hello from heaven?” I said in amazement. “More like a shout-out from heaven,” she agreed.
To anyone else, the incident might be explained away as an amusing coincidence. But to bereaved parents, eternally connected with our children, we might interpret such an event as nothing less than an expression of heaven’s love. I don’t presume to understand or explain how these things occur, but I know in my heart that the sense of connection is more than wishful thinking.
At the beginning of grief, I hesitated to talk about these experiences. They were sacred moments, and I protected them from possible scrutiny by others. But, as I listened to other bereaved parents relate their stories of heaven’s presence, what I felt in the deepest place of my soul was validated and given voice.
There were stories of butterflies, dreams, electrical occurrences, personal objects showing up inexplicably, songs, fragrances, synchronicities; the phenomena were as varied and individual as our beloved children. Like images of a collective collage, the accounts were vibrant with feeling and dimension, all leading to the striking conclusion: Our children are very much alive in a realm not far away.
Never did I doubt that life continues after death; I just believed that heaven was a distant place with little interest in earthly affairs. The idea that heaven and earth somehow intersect was a new perspective for me. It implied a new kind of relationship with my son that required a willingness to release what was and what should have been, and to embrace the love that is.
As I began allowing this new relationship, I felt an inward sense of peace. I found that the awareness of an enduring connectedness, as real as any earthly relationship, enabled me to move forward with grief and reclaim a sense of meaning and purpose in life.
Like streams of silver starlight reaching through midnight clouds, heaven’s gifts are reminders that love transcends the separation of death. By opening our hearts to these luminous gifts, we embrace a very-present source of comfort and strength.
What distinguishes heaven’s expressions of love? While the outer form of gifts may vary, three qualities may be identified:
We might think of heaven’s gifts as a UPS package: Unexpected, Personal, and Supportive. They take us by surprise, fill our hearts with love, and inspire us to live in honor of a reality beyond our limited view.
Our cherished relationships transcend the bounds of time, space, and life itself. So if a delivery arrives, “With love, from heaven,” I’ll gratefully sign for the gift.
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That was so beautiful and helpful to me. Thanks Robin.
Thank you – I’m so glad you found this helpful. Love and prayers for peace.
Thanks for sharing, this was beautiful, I am always looking for gifts from heaven from my George.
Thank you, Bridget.
Hi Robin. Very beautiful story. I am also “Brandon’s mom”. My Brandon died of osteosarcoma in 2003 at 22. I’m also in the Houston area so we share that too. I can’t tell you how many times I have been to a restaurant and ended up with a waiter named Brandon, once at a Chuy’s where we were celebrating his birthday. Everyone at the table gasped as he introduced himself. Then we all laughed and let him in on our story.
Not a day goes by where I don’t feel his presence and for that I am so thankful.
I love that! Just yesterday we had a carpenter do some work in our house and his assistant’s name was Brandon. I kept calling him by name because I love saying that beautiful name. Love and peace to you.
Thank you for sharing Robin. I’m finally ready to write my book about Tiffany (my 17 year old in heaven) and her beautiful UPS deliveries she made. I want all parents to know that they will try and reach us and it’s ok to be private about them or shout them from the mountain tops because they are the treasures our loved ones send to us to help us during our grief.
That’s wonderful! I agree – whatever helps us through grief. Wishing you the best with your book.
With tears streaming down my face, I believe every single word you wrote. The way you have packaged it was truly beautiful and lets me know these gifts are in fact, real! Thank you for sharing it touched my heart.
I feel honored that my story touched your heart. Prayers for comfort.
Hello. Thank you for sharing your story. I lost my oldest son Jeremy 10 years ago, & my surviving son Brandon & I are in the survival mode constantly. As strange as it sounds, maybe your son Brandon could be passing a message to my son Brandon from his brother Jeremy on tbe other side?? I too, have had experiences of contact from Jeremy…electrical things, even his touch on shoulders as only he did during his teen years. Thank you again!
Heart to heart 💜 my Dear
True and beautiful. Thank you, from Noah’s Mom.
Thank you so much for sharing, Robin! My husband, Bob and I have had similar heaven sent “encounters” from our daughter, Lesley who passed away 5 years , 7 months and 20 days ago. These encounters sure make us smile. We miss having our daily- physical interactions – the hugs, the I love you’s, her smile and the laughter. Our encounters however validate that she is still with us in spirit❣️
This touched my heart and gave me hope. My Danny ( 33) has been gone 18 months. Feels like a lifetime! Do any of you see someone who looks like your child, and can’t stop staring. I just want to run up and hug the person, but of course i don’t. I wonder each time if Danny is reminding me he’s with me.
Our daughter passed in 2000 waiting for a lung transplant that never came. The first night at home after passing, my husband and I were sleeping in her room. We were holding one another and speaking quietly about what had happened. In the quiet stillness a soft “breeze,” came across us both. Neither of us spoke for a moment and then we each said, “Did you feel that?” It was a caress from our girl…we still talk about that moment even today. Another time my husband smelled Pantene (she loved to wash her hair with it.) My brother in law was at work and saw Cassidi sitting on a pallet. Others have told me of visits from our girl. Heaven is just the difference in this breath and then the passing…they aren’t far away… I was at a concert and there was no breeze whatsoever. Our daughter’s favorite song started being sung and a breeze kicked up right at that moment. Coincidence? No, a message that says, “I’m okay..you be okay too.”
My son Conner was 5 yrs 7 months and 17 days old when he passed from a brain tumor. He was a lively child and 110 percent boy. He was very loving and active not at all like his older brother. He would ask for something and if I said no 50 times he would ask 50 more times. After his death I was lost and having a very hard time just trying to make it through the day. One day at work a coworker came up and said that she needed to tell me something. I replied asking what are they (my Co workers) were saying now about me. She replied its not them. Conner said to tell you that he loves you and he’s with you. I was shocked and started crying. She apologized and hurried away as it was the end of our break. At lunch time she came up and apologized for upsetting me. She said you just don’t understand he would not leave me alone he just kept telling me to tell you. I burst out laughing and told her that she could not have said anything that would prove to me more than what she had said because he was always that way when he wanted something. It comforted me and helped me to face each day. I started healing a little after that.
Thank you for sharing your beloved Branden’s love gift from Heaven. Our beautiful Tana has been in Heaven almost 9 years now and I cherish and am amazed each time she sends a gift. Hugs dear one.
You are so Lucky I wish I could get a gift from haven from my Melvin😍💙😀 .
Thank You
Thank you from my heart and yes my soul! I am Troy’s mom, our Lord took him home a year ago.
Reading your story brought tears but also an affirmation ….I didn’t even fully realize I needed!
There have been many “gifts” of unexpected… personal…and supportive,
They have been moments that have literally taken my breath away!
You have given me one of those gifts today!! I feel they are validated because of speaking of them!!!
God Bless You on this journey of love, life and yes …death.
May you be blessed with many “deliveries!!!🤗🙏
Thank you for giving language to what I’ve been coming to realize. Although these incredibly special “UPS” moments don’t take away the pain of so many other moments, I have learned to recognize them and appreciate them with love and laughter. Just today I had one – moving out of my office at work, I was cleaning out my desk and found something way in the back of the drawer. It was one of my business cards, with the back (blank) side colored with markers into a cool design. That was something my Wesley did, probably 10-12 years ago on a visit to Mom at work. He always doodled and made colorful designs. I stuck it in there and forgot about it, and was overjoyed to find it today. Yesterday was 19 months since I lost him.
So beautiful… I can totally relate with a couple such things happening to me too, in respect of my close friend’s son & my own brother who are in heaven… Feels warm to get such love from heaven. It sure reaches us in different ways.. We need to be alert to catch them. Much thanks for sharing. Hugs to you both. Brandon…Love you too 💕
I too am Brandon’s mom. I have had a number of experiences where, ” Brandon, appears in another form. My daughter was going into premature labor and I was 4 hrs away in a meeting. Brandon met me at the door to get my car! Last week I had shoulder replacement surgery, afterward Brandon came in to give me a breathing treatment! What a wonderful embrace for my heart and a gift from heaven. Beautiful words! God bless!
That was lovely and eloquently said.. and so spot on. It is so nice to be validated by others who understand. Perfect timing today. thank you 💕
I live in Texas also. Close to College Station. My son Wesley died in a car accident on July 6 2015 at 19 years of age. He said good by to my husband, older sister and I a few nights after the accident. We all slept together for the first few weeks after. That same night and the next few nights he visited others he was close to. His girlfriend was sad she didn’t get a sign. 2 weeks later she woke one morning and a James Avert heart ring he had given her and always wore on the same finger on the same hand was now on the opposite hand. Now she wears it on that hand. He has sent me other signs. And he let me know he has something to do. He has jobs to do! I have this idea life in heaven is just hanging around the clouds like being on vacation. Maybe it is sometimes but I believe God has things for us to do just like we have things to do here on earth.
My son Michael died in 2003. He was 25 years old. This past Wednesday my husband had open heart surgery. After sitting in waiting rooms for 12 hours the Dr. told us all went well and he would be in recovery for a few hours. Standing at his bedside exhausted I had a nurse assure me that everything looked good and told me
to go home and get some rest. I was very hesitant to leave him. After a short while the nurse told me that the night Doctor on duty (Dr. Mike was excellent) she then said “don’t worry Mike will be with him all night”. I was touched by her words and thought 0h! I know he will be. The next morning when I returned to the hospital the first words from my husbands mouth as he was coming ou of sedation were “I saw Mike last night up in the corner of the room”. Truly a heart warmer at a difficult time.
Robin, this is absolutely beautiful! Would it be okay to put this in our TCF Newsletter for my chapter? I will totally understand if you would rather it not be published. Thanks for sharing this amazing experience.
Beautiful ! Today , 15 years ago our youngest son passed gone to soon , death has no age but he was 20 !
RIP BRYAN GARRETT SHORES
AUGUST 2. 1983 to February 25, 2004