Debra Basham

Living and Loving

Category: Sacred Stories

Contains sacred stories

  • Backbrush

    Sacred Stories

    She had a back brush she would use to scratch her back when it itched. She kept the brush on the floor next to her bed.

    backbrush

    One night, soon after her husband died, when she turned down her bed, the brush was in their bed!

    This is my simple religion.
    There is no need for temples;
    no need for complicated philosophy.
    Our own brain, our own heart is our temple;
    the philosophy is kindness.     ~ Dalai Lama

  • Mikey

    Sacred Stories

    Last night, on our way home from Mikey’s memorial gathering, we had a wonderful and majestic experience.

    As we pulled up into our driveway, there was a beautiful 12 point buck, standing in the full moon light. He stood there looking right at us for a good long minute. It was picture perfect.

    It was like our friend was saying hi and good bye. It just took our breath away.
    buck 12

  • October 7

    Sacred Stories

    Her husband had passed over 20 years prior. When she passed shortly before midnight on Sunday, October 4, the family was not thinking about his birthday coming up in a few days.

    As the schedule for visitation, funeral, and burial unfolded, none of them were consciously aware of the significance: Her burial took place on what would have been his 98th birthday: October 7!

    Love is the only possession
    which we can carry with us
    beyond the grave.
    ~ Suzanne Curchod

  • Bernie

    Sacred Stories

    bernie coyne young

    Bernie’s passing on January 23 was not a total shock as he had been up and down with complications of COPD for a few years. However, when she wrote to a mutual friend to share the news, the reply was, “Just yesterday I was wondering how Bernie was doing.”

    Later, learning more details, they discovered Bernie had slipped into a coma the day before he completed his transition, so he may well have paid a visit that day. Often when it appears we are thinking of someone in spirit, we discover that person was making contact with us.

    One additional touching layer of coincidence: Bernie passed on the birthday of another good friend—also named Bernie!

  • Referrals

    Sacred Stories

    At 2:08 pm, she sent a text message to a colleague she had not seen in almost a year:

    “Sent a referral your way for relationship counseling.”

    At 3:03 pm, this was the reply to her text:

    “Oh my goodness. I just uttered your name to a client in my 2-3 appointment, and looked at my phone to refer someone to you just now. Yours was the first on my text messages! She will be calling you. The universe is incredible.”

    Whatever else we know about life, we certainly can appreciate the connections that weave us together, can’t we….

  • Trust

    Sacred Stories

    It was her birthday, and the Angelic Messenger Card she drew was “Trust.”

    Acknowledging universal love as your basis for bonding with others.

    You have drawn this card to reinforce your belief in a loving Universe and to awaken new channels through which you can use the Universe’s love to strengthen your ties with other people, with animals and other living things, and with the work that you offer a service to humanity and the planet.

    You may be experiencing, or are about to experience, an accelerated period of spiritual growth and breakthrough in which your definition of love will change. Still, you are encouraged to maintain your trust and belief in yourself as a worthy and effective vehicle of positive action. Whatever your fears, whatever your insecurities, the angels are working with you to bring you into greater clarity with the nature of love.

    Angelic Messenger Cards: Divine Guidance for Personal Healing and Spiritual Discovery, A Book and Divination Deck by Meredith L. Young-Sowers.

    When she opened her email a bit later, the Loving Reminders for that day was also Trust!

    Learn to Trust

    Wherever there is trust, there is peace.
    Whenever we trust, we allow Good.
    However we trust, we will understand.
    With Trust in us, we can flow with life.

    Trust opens minds.
    Trust give us freedom.
    Trust encourages creation.
    Trust brings creative solutions.

    Trust in what, you may say
    Trust in the Universe or Source or God.
    Trust in Divine Right Outcome.
    Trust in the Goodness and Love That Is.

    By Betty Lue Leiber (To receive Reminders, write to: bettylue@reunionministries.org)

    Obviously, the theme of Trust will be part of our consciousness for the year!

  • Seven Years

    Sacred Stories

    They had seemed very right together. She thought this was a forever thing. Sure, they had gotten together so quickly after his wife died, but they had all known one another. It was not like they started out as strangers and they weren’t kids.

    He had been restless for several years, but what had made him decide he could not be with her any longer? Now settling in to the new community without him—moving alone into the winter home he had picked out for them—her heart still had so many questions.

    The stories of life began to bubble up as she met her new neighbors. One particular couple had come together after he had been on the wild side for seven years following the death of his wife. He said it was like he had so much grief he could not deal with it in a conventional way. His wife had died with pancreatic cancer.

    Her heart did not miss the deeply meaningful coincidences: Her former partner’s wife had also died with pancreatic cancer, and that had been seven years ago.

    It was as though the Universe was helping her know she had not done anything wrong: This was his grief journey….

    “Sometimes you learn more about someone at the end of a relationship than at the beginning.” ~ Anonymous

  • Salmon Patties

    Sacred Stories

    It was their common concern about the mother they had shared for over fifty years that brought them together for salmon patties late that Saturday evening in October.

    “What are you doing?” he asked when his sister-in-law answered his mom’s phone.

    “Just starting some dinner. What about you?” she asked.

    “Same here. What are you making?” They continued the small talk, avoiding more serious matters. Their mom had been at home with hospice care for almost six months now, and had been experiencing worsening symptoms for the past day or so.

    “Salmon patties,” she said.

    “You are kidding? That is what we are making, too! Why don’t we come down and we can have dinner together.”

    So they sat around the family table in that tiny kitchen. They laughed a lot, as they ate salmon patties.

    salmon patties

    Neither of them knew at the time that would be the last meal their mom would partake of before transitioning from her physical body.

    “Coincidences mean you’re on the right path.” ~ Simon Van Booy

  • “The Afterlife Connection”

    Sacred Stories

    Following her husband’s death, she found seeing it too painful, so the helium balloon he had given her was put in the guest room, out of sight.

    On the anniversary of his passing, though deflated for many long months, that balloon re-inflated and floated out of the bedroom, down the hallway, and came to hover directly above his chair.

    This is only one of the messages she has received. She suggests The Afterlife Connection: A Therapist Reveals How to Communicate with Departed Loved Ones, by Dr. Jane Greer.

    Dr. Jane Greer, a classically trained therapist, began with the belief that the bond that exists between the living and the dead is not purely a psychological one, but is, in fact, much more dynamic and empowering. In the shattering aftermath of her own mother’s death, Dr. Greer learned—and shows us as well—that transcommunication is not simply a “hello from heaven” but a powerful therapeutic tool that is available to any of us. Through this communication, the pain of grieving can be made more bearable, ambivalent relationships can be healed, and a loved one’s messages can bring relief and joy.{Amazon.com}

    (See also the previous Sacred Story, Hope You Feel Better Soon.)

  • Crane and Hummingbird

    Sacred Stories

    Adjusting to the passing of her brother included her move to Florida.

    She was delighted by the Sandhill Cranes, but naïve to the connection with her brother until one particular crane that had consistently followed her around in the yard pecked at a glass hummingbird she had placed in a flower pot until it broke.
    hummingbird-broken

    Only then did she realize he was still with her, now in another form!

    crane

    (See the previous Sacred Story about Hummingbird: He is All Around Me.)