Where do our loved ones go when they leave for the Spiritual Homeland, leaving a persistent craving in our souls?

Do they still watch over us? Or, involved in other tasks, do they forget the loves they left on Earth?

Surely, many of us question ourselves in that regard.

But Rose, eight months pregnant, was getting ready to welcome her baby in those days. And there was no room in her mind for anything else.

The long-awaited child would be born soon. However, she suddenly exhibited the symptoms of a heart disease.

The concern of the physicians made the young mother even more anxious. She was told that her child had little chance of survival.

For the next twenty four hours, doctors and nurses kept watching. The status of the fetus got worse and the only choice was an induced birth.

Rose gave birth to a little boy and waited for the prognosis. She watched nurses coming and going, heard the sound of the machines, smelled the disinfectant.

At last, overtaken by fatigue, she fell asleep.

The hospital chaplain was called by the medical team, as the little one could die any minute.

The priest came by, and according to his faith, decided the best thing to do was to commend the child to God, so his Spirit could be welcomed by the angels in the spirit world.

And so he did.

Meanwhile, Rose had a dream. Her uncle Patrick, deceased many years ago, appeared before her.

She could not perceive the details. But the serene face of her uncle stuck in her memory, as well as his message of hope:

Do not worry. Your son will be alright. Everything will work out just fine.

When Rose woke up, her heart was in peace. She was overtaken by great serenity, thinking about the encouraging words from her uncle.

Then she saw the priest and was terrified. Was her son dead?

The priest must have realized her anxiety, for he quickly spoke:

My daughter, hang on hope. I have prayed for your son and even decided to baptize him. As I did not know how to call him, I named him Patrick. I hope you don't mind.

When she was about to tell him about the dream with her uncle, a doctor walked into the room informing that the child status was stable.

He will make through this crisis!  - he declared optimistically.

Rose sighted in relief. She went to the nursery and took a long look at her baby, sleeping in the incubator. His little chest went up and down in compass with his heart.

She put down her head against the glass and whispered:

Patrick, my son, everything will be alright.

*   *   *

Death does not tear the ties of affection. And, more than we can imagine or be aware of, our loved ones go on protecting us.

Many of them, by Divine grant, become zealous protectors of their loves.

Let us think about this and light up the long night of longing sending our beloveds our prayers of strengthening, gratitude and tenderness.

Spiritist Moment Team, based on a story in the book Pequenos Milagres, v. II, by Yitta Halberstam and Judith Leventhal, ed. Sextante.
December 21.2010.