A Message of Faith, Hope and Love

“A Message of Faith, Hope and Love,” serves as a reminder of my son’s love for me, and my well-being. Both before and after his departure, he sent me messages of faith, hope, and love.. Those values have guided both my healing process and new beginning. Furthermore, they constitute the core values that guide the work of the nonprofit organization Healing Hearts, which I founded. I believe in my heart that my son knew his death would be a difficult experience for me. He wanted me to live in peace, be healthy and happy, and be ready to handle the pain that would surely come once he left this world. To do this, I needed to hold on to my Faith, engage in Hope, and keep living in Love. Otherwise, I would not be able to do it.

Daniel made it a habit of  texting me first thing in the morning, usually with a scripture or a motivational quote. A week before he took ill, he texted me a parable that read, “The Messiah told the disciple, If you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.” And right below that he texted, “Though it is the smallest of all seeds, yet when it grows, it is the largest of garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds come and perch in its branches. Point of the parable is that while the mustard seed has a small beginning, it ends with a surprisingly large effect.”

When I read my morning text message, I felt blessed. I was thankful to have a child whose heart and mind were filled with wisdom from The Most High. However, it just seemed so out of the ordinary that he would send me a parable, which is a figure of speech, that tells a short story and ends with a moral lesson at the end. I assumed this was a reference to himself. He was the youngest son and had accomplished remarkable things in his life. I texted back, telling him that yes, it is the smallest of all seeds. With a tad bit of faith, there is absolutely nothing that you’re incapable of achieving in this life. He never responded. I thought it strange too. I remember thinking, perhaps I had received it by mistake. It was probably for someone else. I kept the message in my phone, not realizing it would be the last text I would ever receive from him.

Through the process of grieving, I lost sight of what has rooted me, defined me, and supported my life up to that point: my Faith, Hope, and Love for God. As a result, my faith was put to the test and the very foundation of it was called into question. Feeling powerless and unable to adapt to the situation, I became depressed. My only desire was to shut myself in and sleep. I was angry at everyone, including Daniel. But I missed him terribly! Several months later, I was led to reread his last message. I was curious what that mountain represented. I discovered that it symbolizes something overwhelming, intimidating, and seemingly impossible. Things that can only be defeated by God. I was amazed! That text was indeed for me. I had a message from Daniel, and he used that parable to deliver it to me. The message was an assurance from him that God could do anything; that nothing was impossible for God. Believe and trust in Him, and He will provide you with the strength you need to cope with your suffering. 

One year after the initial message, I received a second message as a reminder. I went to a Burlington store to get some decorative items for my office.. There was a glass box-shaped case with a lid that said, “Faith Makes All Things Possible.” I immediately thought of Daniel. I opened it in the store. It was empty and was lined in black velvet. When I got home, I placed it on my desk. I reopened it a few days later, and guess what!? Inside were 33 mustard seeds! This is not a made-up story! Mustard seeds are something I’ve never seen before. I googled mustard seed image, and sure enough, mustard seeds were in my Faith box-shaped case! I’m not joking! I have since reclaimed and reconnected with the values that I had once trusted and relied on. I draw my strength from them and I am reminded everyday to not lose my sight of them. I live in the Faith that my son is with me spiritually. I live with the Hope of one day being reunited with him. I dwell in God’s love and have dedicated my life to loving and being there for others.

Grief is a natural reaction to loss when someone you care about dies, regardless of what or who you believe in. Faithful people do not always accept their losses quietly and calmly. Heartaches and pains hurt a faithful person just as much as they do someone who does not rely on spirituality or religion in their lives. It is natural for people to go through spiritual trials after losing a loved one, to question their faith, to lose hope, and to feel denial and anger toward God as they try to reconcile their grief.

Keep the Faith, hold on to Hope, and dwell in God’s Love. Keep them in your mind and heart at all times. The goal of faith is to lead us to know God’s heart and then to trust His ways to guide us. Hope is the expectation that keeps Faith alive. Love has the power to help us believe again and to restore hope in others. Hope is the expectation that keeps Faith alive. Love has the power to help us restore hope in others

In tribute to my son, Daniel. Thank you for loving me and being my guiding light.It is through my Faith, Hope and Love, that we’ll be reunited again♥

Article written by: Jo Ann A. Dumas

24 June 2022

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