Your Lifeline Stories

My Story ...

I am the mother of four children. I was divorced and worked hard to establish a career and see my children through college. In 1989, my daughter Michele, age 27, took her life. No warning, no reason. I was just going through the motions of going on with life when one year and a half later I received a call that my oldest daughter Annette, age 29, had been hit by a speeding van and crushed to death. Impossible!

Two children dead within one and a half years of each other. Violent and sudden. How was I to survive?

I went to Unity. A spiritual counselor asked me the most important question of my life: “Are you willing to heal?” When I answered yes, I slowly, ever so slowly, began to find “peace beyond understanding.”

It seems that, even against all odds, it is possible to survive. I know we don’t forget our children, but our lives change to accept what is.

As part of my healing, I wrote letters to my daughters and compiled them in a book titled A Story of Survival, My Journey Through Grief. I hope my story of survival is a source of comfort and hope to other parents in loss.

I have become more aware of God-given opportunities which I do not resist. I am blessed with my faith which has helped me to heal and become stronger. I accept God’s gifts with tremendous gratitude knowing that God is by my side.

—Jean, Washington

My Story ...

I have known about Unity most of my life. When I was twenty years old my mother became terminally ill. I had been through a great deal of change already in this same year. I had married, moved out of town, and my husband had been released from a position that he truly loved and felt was his calling. I called Silent Unity for prayer about my mother. I had never called before. I was amazed. I could not recall the words that were spoken to me over the prayer line; however, the fear and tremendous burden I felt was gone.

I continued over the next six months to pray with Silent Unity for her healing. The last month to six weeks my mother was alive I felt inwardly that it was no longer right to pray for her healing. I felt guided at that time to pray for her peace. The morning I received the call that it would not be long before she passed, I drove to the hospital like a madwoman. The hospital was about three hours away. My mother had told me often of the peace she saw in her mother when she was passing, and because my mother's experience had seemed so difficult, I wanted to see that same peace in her. When I arrived at the hospital and walked the hall toward her room I saw into the room and the bed was made. There was a tremendous light in the room and a feeling of peace came over me. I knew my mother was at peace, and even though I could not see her body, I felt I got a glimpse in that moment of her spirit as it was free from her frail body. I wept with mixed emotions of joy for her peace and also sadness for my loss.

During the course of my mother's illness, she had begged for it to snow and she would watch out the window for the flakes. The morning my father, brother, a friend, and I went to the cemetery to bury her urn, it began to snow. It snowed flakes the size of silver dollars. I was in awe. I have always believed that the snow brings a sense of peace and renewal to the earth and to those of us present to observe it. We all sat for a few moments and watched it snow. It felt peaceful and like a true, holy experience.

A few days after the cemetery experience a friend of my mother’s shared a dream that she had before my mother passed. She shared of my mother seeing family members who had already gone on and how comforted she was by the contact. At that time there was an article in Reader's Digest about life after death. This whole experience was much of what has propelled me to continue my prayer work and continue on a spiritual path. I truly believe that no experiences come to us by accident. I am truly grateful to my mother, my family, and all those who have touched my life on this path.

—Sharon, Missouri

My Story ...

I want to make it, and I am just learning how. Serendipity is the word that keeps coming up to me. I have had so many days of wondering why I just don't get it.

I totaled my SUV on March 17, 2007. It was the first severe accident I have ever experienced after driving for more than 28 years. That was the day that door appeared to have slammed shut on my life ... or did it open? “I want you to pay attention, Patricia,” the voice in my soul was whispering.

I was mad at my friend. I was angry because my money was “funny”—meaning there was not enough and I felt like I just couldn't get things right; I thought I was trying so hard. I was embarrassed to ask my mother for financial help. My sister was telling me to believe and watch what came out of my mouth. She wanted me to get in tune with the “Secret.” I heard all of that, but I just wasn't getting it!

I was driving in my car when my dog, Ife, started gagging, I quickly placed her on the floor of the car and continued on my journey. I had just hung up from calling my friend, and getting no answer, I remember saying, “God, I am so angry at everything and with everyone!” Right at this point, Boom, Crash ... Oh my God, what has happened? I sit crying, scared, shaking and wondering, “Ife, are you alive?” She pokes her head from underneath the airbag. Thank God, you are all right; God, thank You, I am alive ... but why me ... why do I need this, not now ... I have enough on my plate ... do I have insurance? ... I didn't send in my new information ... Sirens, Ambulance, Police. I am so very scared ... but they all talked to me with calm voices ... they all said, “It will be okay, don't cry, you will be all right, do you want to go to the hospital?”

The Lowest, Loudest voice said, “You are my child, I will take care of you. Are you listening to ME?!”

I just ran through a day that I now realize was the beginning of my new journey through life. I have since had several experiences that are finally making me see that God will not forsake me, He wants me to believe in Him, He has my Back, Front and Sides. I don't understand a lot of things right now. Serendipitously, things are starting to unfold. I am at the crossroad of believing I have no control, only the understanding that I have to believe that I am His Child and I listen for that voice all the time now.

Well, I still have no money in my bank account, but I do have another vehicle, at no cost to me. I am calmer with my approach to the trials and tribulations of life. My friend and I are not together per se, but I am not alone. I thank God each day no matter how challenging it appears. You know why? Because I am listening and waiting for God to talk me through it all.

—Patricia, Georgia

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