Opening my eyes from a very peaceful sleep, I thought I was awake. I felt unusually rested as I looked up and saw my 27-year-old son standing beside my bed. His auburn-red hair glistened in the clear white light surrounding him, and his eyes gleamed deep crystal blue.

    He bent down to peck me on the cheek. Although I didn’t feel the touch of his lips, I could actually feel his happiness. It seemed as if time was standing still, while love flowed all around him. I was not thinking about him passing away a few months earlier. Instead, at that moment in time, Rem was alive. My heart burst with love as beautiful memories flooded my soul. I recalled the first time I held him in my arms and unwrapped him to ensure all was well. Memories of as a toddler and memories all the way through his college years flashed before me, then disappeared as I stared up at my amazing young man.

   We did not speak because no words were needed. Love spoke for us.

     Rem began to back away as if to leave, but my mind begged him to stay. He smiled as he eased closer and bent over to kiss my cheek again. Afterward, Rem stood up and grinned at me. Then he turned and looked at the room behind him. I knew he wanted me to do the same.

   As I looked around, I didn’t see the room. Instead, I saw a beautiful garden bathed in the same perfect light that surrounded my son. Then, my attention was focused back on Rem, I noticed he was looking down, so I followed his gaze. At his foot sat a cuddly, cute, white puppy—no doubt a Shih Tzu, just like the little black puppy he had as a child. Then Rem peered toward the opposite side, so I did the same. Growing beside his left foot, I saw a cluster of beautiful white daisies, as bright as if they had been kissed by God’s pure light. I immediately understood why he showed me the gorgeous little puppy. Rem loved his dogs, and they made him happy. The flowers puzzled me a bit.       

   As I looked up, Rem began stepping backward until I could no longer see him. Instead of crying, I felt a profound sense of peace. I understood that my son was excited to go back and that he had a lot to do. I knew in my heart that God had given me a glimpse of Remington in His presence. I drifted back into a deep, peaceful sleep. It was a rest that I’d not experienced since Remington had walked through the shadow of death.

   I didn’t share my dream with anyone. I held it in my heart and basked in the memory of it when grief would get to be more than I could bear. I felt like the dream was a personal gift from God, an example of His love. I felt that God shared with me that my son was experiencing a degree of love and happiness that is possible only in His presence.

   But that’s not all. The following month, a few days before Mother’s Day, the doorbell rang. A large package addressed to me from a special young lady was left on my front porch. She was the love of Rem’s life. Opening the box, I saw it was a potted plant--beautiful white daisies. My mind jumped back to the dream. I felt God’s hands molding my heart together as I read the attached note aloud, “I love you, Mom, Em.” I knew God was revealing His hand as the Comforter and confirming my hope, which was made possible by His Son.

• Praise you, God, for you are love, and how can you not love, Love?
• Thank you, God, for sending your Son.
• Thank you, God, that I have eternity with Remington.
• Thank you, God, that I can look forward to a place where the light of your love will surround us.
• Thank you, God, for Rem, a son that loves deeply.
• Thank you, God, for showing me that he still loves deeply.
• Praise you, God, because that degree of love is from You.

Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God.

Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love (1 John 4:7-8 NIV).