Angels On Earth
Life has been so crazy! My updates on my life are I'm pregnant with baby #2! After much consideration and prayer Garrett and I decided it was time for another spirit to join our family. A baby girl will be adding to our craziness February of 2019. When we announced to my family that we were pregnant with a little girl, my sister later came to tell me that she felt very strongly that this baby was needed at this time. Her husband also privately told my husband the same thing. Oddly enough, we've felt overwhelming inspired how much this little girl needs to join our family at this time. How amazing to hear that same inspiration coming from someone outside of your little family? It was a huge testimony builder. It added to our excitement seeing how happy those 2 were for us. Now, as weird as it is, this post isn't necessarily going to be surrounding the news of this little girl. More our little girl will be a secondary reason to write this post.
Since high school I've felt the spirit of my grandma Melaerts lingering near so often. My first experience with her was in 11th grade. That year has been the hardest of my life. I battled deep depression and growing anxiety. I'd held very few close friends, all of which moved away. Then the only other best friends I'd had were my siblings and within 2 weeks 3 of the 6 had moved away as well. Leaving me feeling so lonely unsure of how to handle it. Yet in the deepest of my loneliness I sat at girls camp as we listened to a lesson about our ancestors. I looked in the distance and the veil was so thin I almost felt I could see her. Since that experience I've held so many sacred memories, too sacred to ever share, of her presence.
When Garrett and I first got married we moved to Logan, UT. That was very hard for me. I'd never been away from my family, more specifically my mom, for more than 2 weeks. Yet here I was, moving to another state. Trials harder than I ever imagined arose and disrupted my marriage. Rocked it to the core. We were scared and clinging to each other. As much as I can say how much I wish I'd never had moved there, the experiences we learned in simply clinging to our love is a tender lesson in my heart. I'd call my mom weekly sobbing with pain, telling her how much I missed her. But to also tell her how much my grandma was holding me up. Lending me her strength. I felt her presence constantly while we lived up there for a short 8 months.
Her presence in my life has been ongoing since that first experience in 11th grade. I wondered for so long why she'd be with me. In our religion we believe those who have past can only be with one person at a time. So why me? I was 8 when she died so I don't have as many memories as other members of my immediate and extended family have of and with her. But what I've come to know the true reason along with the simple fact that she is still teaching me things, and like she's done so many times lending me her strength. Not only was she a beacon of light to so many on earth but her sainthood made it obvious that she has and always will be a fierce warrior of God.
Since getting pregnant she has been almost constant. She has truly become my best friend. When trials seem to consume me, she is there to comfort me in my time of need. The veil at times is almost transparent. I know she knows me, cries with me, and rejoices with me. I recently begged my father in heaven to give my mom her presence even for a moment, since my mother hasn't had the same experiences as me. The next morning my mom got one of those experiences. How clear she has made it how much she cares for me but more importantly my mother. How obvious she wants my mom to know how proud she is of her.
Because of this experience and a couple others I've realized something I hadn't seen before, that I have a spiritual gift of having the veil for me and those I care so very much about especially thin. I've been able to feel the presence of many who meant a lot to me, and feel their love, strength, and faith. How amazing this gift has helped me understand and feel their presence more. I visit her grave often to give me a strong moment with her. The bond I feel with her is one we must have made in the pre-existence. Because of that bond it was almost instantaneous that I knew why she had hardly left my side since getting pregnant.
For as long as I could remember I've wanted to name my first daughter Lucy. It's something Garrett and I shared. Garrett had always wanted to name his first son Hudson, I'd always wanted to name my first daughter Lucy. Yet since getting pregnant Lucy just doesn't sound like her name. So why am I telling you all of this? Intimate details from my life? Because it leads to why and how my baby girl was named. I started testing out different names. None fit her. Then one gave me chills so I tried it. Beverly Grace. The name still makes me catch my breath.
Beverly Signy Melaerts was a woman who loved fiercely. An incredible example of generosity, forgiveness, strength, and overwhelming love. This little girl was meant to be named Beverly. She will learn of her great grandma. Love her. She will feel of her great grandma's love for her. But grace is equally as inspired. Grace is almost how my grandma lived her life. Her whole life she had control over one thing and one thing alone, herself. The trials she faced, truly brings the words to a beautiful song to life for me "How much can one heart take?" She faced trials alone at times, maybe even most times. She showed that no matter what, it only matters what heavenly father thinks. Something my own mother instilled in me, oh how I thank her for that. She countless times showed my mom that if she did her best and did everything in her power, my grandma would take care of the rest. Is there no greater evidence of her love as a mother? But she knew that God would make all that was wrong in her life right. He would help, when she'd done all she could do. I wish I could have felt her bond with God, her partnership with Him.
Overall, she never gave up hope of a brighter tomorrow. A woman who gave and gave until her last breath. Even her last conversation, unable to speak, was through writing a note to those with her "Take care of dad". Never once did she think of herself. Her everlasting words, "Are you sad? Go serve someone." That wasn't advice she assumed would help, that was a personal testimony and knowledge she'd tried and tested her whole life. Just serve someone. A woman who assumed the best, when someone would get mad at a fellow driver "You never know, what if he just lost his job?" If my daughter turns out to be even half the servant of God her namesake was, she will enter into His presence being greeted with a "Well done, thou good and faithful servant".
Long post, I know. Deeply personal, I know. But my mission in life is to expose myself. Show the parts that scare me. Live without fear, shame, or hesitation of what others might think. We live in a world ruled my judgement and criticism. But like the words spoken millions of times by my grandma, "it doesn't matter what anyone thinks, only what Heavenly Father thinks". My challenge to you is to find the ancestor that you relate to the most, one that sticks out to you. And if you can't find one, I'd be happy to share my beloved grandma with you. But know there are so many on the other side of the veil, cheering us on. Watching us and wishing for our success in this life. They love us more than we can imagine. They see our full potential! They have full knowledge of this life and the one before, they know what we're capable of and how mighty we are. Love them. Feel them. Think of them. Visit their resting place. And know they're rooting us on, every step of our journey. I am forever thankful and cannot wait for the day I get to embrace the Melaerts family's beloved Beverly and thank her for being there, when no one else could. Remember our angels on earth.
Since high school I've felt the spirit of my grandma Melaerts lingering near so often. My first experience with her was in 11th grade. That year has been the hardest of my life. I battled deep depression and growing anxiety. I'd held very few close friends, all of which moved away. Then the only other best friends I'd had were my siblings and within 2 weeks 3 of the 6 had moved away as well. Leaving me feeling so lonely unsure of how to handle it. Yet in the deepest of my loneliness I sat at girls camp as we listened to a lesson about our ancestors. I looked in the distance and the veil was so thin I almost felt I could see her. Since that experience I've held so many sacred memories, too sacred to ever share, of her presence.
When Garrett and I first got married we moved to Logan, UT. That was very hard for me. I'd never been away from my family, more specifically my mom, for more than 2 weeks. Yet here I was, moving to another state. Trials harder than I ever imagined arose and disrupted my marriage. Rocked it to the core. We were scared and clinging to each other. As much as I can say how much I wish I'd never had moved there, the experiences we learned in simply clinging to our love is a tender lesson in my heart. I'd call my mom weekly sobbing with pain, telling her how much I missed her. But to also tell her how much my grandma was holding me up. Lending me her strength. I felt her presence constantly while we lived up there for a short 8 months.
Her presence in my life has been ongoing since that first experience in 11th grade. I wondered for so long why she'd be with me. In our religion we believe those who have past can only be with one person at a time. So why me? I was 8 when she died so I don't have as many memories as other members of my immediate and extended family have of and with her. But what I've come to know the true reason along with the simple fact that she is still teaching me things, and like she's done so many times lending me her strength. Not only was she a beacon of light to so many on earth but her sainthood made it obvious that she has and always will be a fierce warrior of God.
Since getting pregnant she has been almost constant. She has truly become my best friend. When trials seem to consume me, she is there to comfort me in my time of need. The veil at times is almost transparent. I know she knows me, cries with me, and rejoices with me. I recently begged my father in heaven to give my mom her presence even for a moment, since my mother hasn't had the same experiences as me. The next morning my mom got one of those experiences. How clear she has made it how much she cares for me but more importantly my mother. How obvious she wants my mom to know how proud she is of her.
Because of this experience and a couple others I've realized something I hadn't seen before, that I have a spiritual gift of having the veil for me and those I care so very much about especially thin. I've been able to feel the presence of many who meant a lot to me, and feel their love, strength, and faith. How amazing this gift has helped me understand and feel their presence more. I visit her grave often to give me a strong moment with her. The bond I feel with her is one we must have made in the pre-existence. Because of that bond it was almost instantaneous that I knew why she had hardly left my side since getting pregnant.
For as long as I could remember I've wanted to name my first daughter Lucy. It's something Garrett and I shared. Garrett had always wanted to name his first son Hudson, I'd always wanted to name my first daughter Lucy. Yet since getting pregnant Lucy just doesn't sound like her name. So why am I telling you all of this? Intimate details from my life? Because it leads to why and how my baby girl was named. I started testing out different names. None fit her. Then one gave me chills so I tried it. Beverly Grace. The name still makes me catch my breath.
Beverly Signy Melaerts was a woman who loved fiercely. An incredible example of generosity, forgiveness, strength, and overwhelming love. This little girl was meant to be named Beverly. She will learn of her great grandma. Love her. She will feel of her great grandma's love for her. But grace is equally as inspired. Grace is almost how my grandma lived her life. Her whole life she had control over one thing and one thing alone, herself. The trials she faced, truly brings the words to a beautiful song to life for me "How much can one heart take?" She faced trials alone at times, maybe even most times. She showed that no matter what, it only matters what heavenly father thinks. Something my own mother instilled in me, oh how I thank her for that. She countless times showed my mom that if she did her best and did everything in her power, my grandma would take care of the rest. Is there no greater evidence of her love as a mother? But she knew that God would make all that was wrong in her life right. He would help, when she'd done all she could do. I wish I could have felt her bond with God, her partnership with Him.
Overall, she never gave up hope of a brighter tomorrow. A woman who gave and gave until her last breath. Even her last conversation, unable to speak, was through writing a note to those with her "Take care of dad". Never once did she think of herself. Her everlasting words, "Are you sad? Go serve someone." That wasn't advice she assumed would help, that was a personal testimony and knowledge she'd tried and tested her whole life. Just serve someone. A woman who assumed the best, when someone would get mad at a fellow driver "You never know, what if he just lost his job?" If my daughter turns out to be even half the servant of God her namesake was, she will enter into His presence being greeted with a "Well done, thou good and faithful servant".
Long post, I know. Deeply personal, I know. But my mission in life is to expose myself. Show the parts that scare me. Live without fear, shame, or hesitation of what others might think. We live in a world ruled my judgement and criticism. But like the words spoken millions of times by my grandma, "it doesn't matter what anyone thinks, only what Heavenly Father thinks". My challenge to you is to find the ancestor that you relate to the most, one that sticks out to you. And if you can't find one, I'd be happy to share my beloved grandma with you. But know there are so many on the other side of the veil, cheering us on. Watching us and wishing for our success in this life. They love us more than we can imagine. They see our full potential! They have full knowledge of this life and the one before, they know what we're capable of and how mighty we are. Love them. Feel them. Think of them. Visit their resting place. And know they're rooting us on, every step of our journey. I am forever thankful and cannot wait for the day I get to embrace the Melaerts family's beloved Beverly and thank her for being there, when no one else could. Remember our angels on earth.
Comments
Post a Comment