I've never been to the other side. I've never died. I've never had a near death experience. However, I have had an out-of-body experience. Maybe some of you have too.
When my husband was first deployed to Iraq I was lonely and often sought him out in my dream world. I didn't really know much about out-of-body experiences. It wasn't until I woke up from a nap crying that I'd knew I had one.
It was the call I received from my husband after that dream that made me realize it wasn't a dream. Being that he was so many hours ahead of me on his time schedule he would be sleeping when I'd take a nap. I rarely take naps but I was mentally exhausted from not being able to sleep for more than 36 hours. I needed a nap.
While in my dream sleep I saw my husband. I saw that he was bruised. He wasn't really injured from fighting or any heavy detail work but just bruised. I felt him holding my hand in my dream. I saw him standing over me at first and then kneeling down next to me telling me all would be okay that he'd always be with me in spirit.
When he called I asked him if he had bruises on his shoulders. He confirmed my image of him. The bruises were from the heavy gear he'd been wearing and toting around for a few days. Sometimes his kevlar and ruck will leave his skin raw from the chaffing and he bruises. He wasn't in pain but just sore. I had nothing to worry about. He was surprised that I connected to him over the thousands of miles.
The characters Grace and Jenny have the same connection in this book. They both leave their bodies and talk to one another but for them it the bond of mother and child. For me it was the bond of husband and wife.
Corinthians 13:13 "...and the strongest of these is love." Love is a very strong bond shared between a parent and a child and a husband and a wife. Love will always be there even through death.
This post was inspired by the novel Afterwards by Rosamund Lupton. After witnessing her children's school set ablaze, Grace attempts to find the arson as her teenage daughter lies in a coma in Lupton's suspense thriller. Join From Left to Write on April 11 as we discuss Afterwards. As a member, I received a copy of the book for review purposes.
My mom often has dreams about our dead relatives and it's eerie how those visits relate to what's going on in our family. What an amazing connection you and your husband have!
ReplyDeleteI get those dreams of the dead relatives too. I also get premonitions, though not very often.
DeleteThat is really powerful. Interesting way of writing about a book by bringing up your own experience.
ReplyDeleteOur book club as that we find something in the book that we can relate to and write about instead of doing a book review.
DeleteHow amazing that you were able to experince that connection with your husband. You two must have a very special bond.
ReplyDeleteI guess we do have a special bond. I sure that there have been plenty of other couples in the same situation too.
DeleteThanks for sharing that - what an amazing experience. There is more in this creation than we can understand rationally.
ReplyDeleteVery true.
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