When we lost my very first dog, Shelby, to cancer, I frantically searched for signs that she was still with us in spirit. I was looking for something tangible….seeing her ghost running across the field, feeling her brush against me, or something along those lines. It never happened.
Later that same year my mother died. That was when I saw my first sign, not of Shelby, but what I believe was from my mother. A stray cat wandered into our lives, and taking him in gave me a much-needed focus and purpose. My mother had shared her love of cats with her children. I think that opened up my mind and heart to signs that would come later.
It was five years later when our Lab mix Maggie was hit and killed by a car. Not long after her death, we headed to our camp as was our habit on weekends. Camp became a painful place for me, because that was a place that Maggie loved and our time there was wrapped around playing and hiking with her and her brother Kobi. One morning when sleeping in with Kobi, Maggie came to me in a dream. In that dream I was able to hold her and kiss her and say the goodbye I never got to in real life. I will never forget how real that dream was, and how much I needed it.
My father also came to me in a dream when he died years later. At the time I had the dream I didn’t know he had passed, and it wasn’t until days later that I remembered the dream and knew it had come at the exact time. My father and I were somewhat estranged, and in my dream he told me that he understood why I had felt and acted the way I did. No matter our differences, we always loved each other.
Signs came from our other dogs after they passed as well. Moses also guided a stray into our yard shortly after he passed on, and reuniting that dog with its family was a welcome distraction. Moses also gave us the sign that he and his siblings were still with us all these years later when we moved to our new home. You can read about that in my post “A Sign From Above“.
Kobi’s signs are less specific but come every time Luke does something exactly like Kobi used to. His signs are intertwined with Maggie’s, since the two of them were best friends in life, and we always felt that Maggie was the one who sent Luke to us, to help us through Kobi’s loss just a few months later.
It can’t be surprising that Sheba is giving us her own signs as well. We helped Sheba to the Rainbow Bridge on a Wednesday evening. That Friday was the presidential inauguration. I had already been drafting my tribute post to Sheba in my head, and was thinking I would tie in the song “You are My Sunshine.” I hadn’t planned on tuning in to watch the inaugural parade, but when I turned on our local news that’s what was on anyway, so I left it. It wasn’t long before I heard one of the marching bands playing that exact song.
My post title was settled. The next day I almost wondered if I’d imagined that, and I even did a google search to confirm that I didn’t. Then I sat down to write that post. As I got ready to write the words “we haven’t seen the sunshine since Sheba passed”, which we truly hadn’t, the sun broke through the clouds and shone down on where I was sitting. It was only out for a very few minutes and we didn’t see it again for days.
I am still feeling and seeing Sheba with me. Last week, when I logged onto Facebook, the above photo popped up as one of my memories. And just this past weekend when shopping with a friend, I saw a literal sign:
Are you open to, and do you believe in signs from above? Every one of the circumstances I described can have a logical, earth-bound, explanation. Maybe it’s just me interpreting them in a spiritual way. Most of all, does it matter, if it gives me comfort in feeling that my loved ones are still with me? It doesn’t matter if skeptics think those of us who believe are crazy. What matters is that we believe, and that opening our minds and hearts to these signs gives us the comfort we need in grieving our losses.
I was just looking for another bookmarked site when I saw this post again, and it reminded me of Callie’s most recent visit….
It was Thursday evening, after I’d learned about Sugar going to the Bridge. Sam was watching the news and I was reading. Suddenly I heard a noise by the couch that sounded like a dog scratching an itch. I looked first at Shadow and then Ducky, but they were both sound asleep. The noise stopped for a moment and then started again. I looked over at the couch and smiled and mouthed “hello my sweetheart. I love you.” And I heard the thump-thump of her wagging tail as it hit the seat cushion. And then she was gone. She had known I was feeling low about Sugar all day and had come to cheer me up. A little while later, Jodi told me about Nellie and my heart sank. But Shadow knew I needed her and came looking for a chest rub.
Sorry I’m so late in responding to this, Sue! Thank you so much for sharing this story! I’m so glad both Callie and Shadow were there for you when you needed them.
Sheba’s been around with subtle signs lately too….showing up in my dreams, and moving one of her favorite balls around the yard. Remember we talked once about the balls that came out of the Kong Wubbas? Sheba was the only one that liked those, and one showed up in the yard when the snow melted. It’s been moving around a bit out there. Maybe wind, maybe the other dogs hitting it when running….but I prefer to think Sheba was letting me know she was there. ♥
It was definitely Sheba letting you know she was there with/for you! ????????. I have no doubt about it. Callie does the same thing when Shadow and I are playing with the Chuck-it balls. ????????
I believe in signs and I also think you cannot find them if you look or hope for them, they just sort of happen.
I think you are right about that, and it’s probably why I never saw any signs from Shelby. After that, I stopped looking and they started happening!
More tears here, Jan-for the animals and you know for the Mom and Dad-I am not sure you ever shared some of those stories, although probably, possibly, and I have forgotten. Cannot respond to it all, but for sure, I believe, but nothing matters except that You believe. Our loved ones are always there….always loved, And always loving us…
Thank you, Lynn! I’m sure I must have shared those stories with you at some point. I also remember that Mom came to Ron in a dream too, do you remember that?
Hmmm, my memory is pretty bad I guess, Jan!! I don’t particularly remember that, although it is sounding familiar! We should remember to ask him about that again…
Many inexplicable events like those you described reinforce the notion that our pets souls can come to us from beyond the grave, when we need them the most. It underscores the bond you shared and will always share. ????
I am a believer and have had several experiences of knowing or feeling that one of the animals has reached me from Spirit World, or that my entreaties to them have been answered. It’s wonderful that you feel connected to so many people and animals that you have had in your life.
I’m glad your sunshine Sheba is sending you messages. I had a very real dream with D’Art that I took as a sign. They are with us in ways we may not be able to rationalize, but perhaps not everything needs a rational explanation. Thinking of you!
I am so glad that you are feeling D’Art with you as well. We have been thinking of you too! ♥
I am very sorry about Sheba. I do believe they send us signs and are still with us.
Thank you so much, Ellen. I am glad there are so many believers out here. ♥
Oh yea, we all believe here too and we’ve seen it with our eyes and earth and felt the smile in our hearts.
After my sister died, I kept waking up or my eyes would be drawn to the clock at 11:11, I mentioned this to my sister, it still happens to this day occasionally. Months later I read an article on- line where a psychic said that when your eyes are drawn to repeat numbers especially 11:11 it’s your angels letting you know they are there. Now whenever that happens I say Hi Rosie,miss you, love you, and I think of her.
I love that, Connie! I’m going to have to watch my clocks more closely for that. ♥
I love these kinds of stories and totally believe in them. We got a couple of signs from Abby. Pink was always her color – a deep, raspberry pink. The day after she died, I spent hours looking through photos of her on my PC. I didn’t even notice that outside, through the sliding glass doors just beyond my desk/computer, the sun had set. All of a sudden, I looked up from the “favorites” of the photos I was pulling together, and the sky was completely raspberry pink. I took a photo and still have it on my desk. I was certain that was her way of telling me she was okay.
I also have heard loved ones leave pennies (“from heaven”) for us to find. One day I was thinking about her in my car, and when I stopped to get gas, I opened the car door and there were 3 pennies – 1 in front and 2 together behind, the same configuration of her legs since she’d lost one of her front legs. 🙂
I love both of those stories, Jackie. I’ll have to pay closer attention to what or who I’ve been thinking about next time I see a penny on the ground.
I also just love that you keep that sunset photo on your desk. ♥
I’m a believer. There are too many signs/coincidences for me to overlook. Many times for me, my ‘sign’ comes in the form of a smell. One day, a few weeks after my great aunt had passed, I smelled her with me for a short time on one of our walks. I knew immediately because she also loved to walk. I also believe when we dream of our loved ones, it is there way of comforting/connecting with us.
I also believe we had immediate connections with people/animals because we know them from a previous time. Sampson and I have that connection. In fact, I had an animal communicator reading on him, and the things I discovered were SO amazing. I will have to share that on my blog, whenever I get beat this funk.
As you said, it doesn’t matter what anyone else thinks, if you believe and it gives you comfort. Well you can guess what I’d say to those naysayers. 🙂 **hint** the first word starts with an F and second with a Y. ;-D
I believe that about connections too, Jodi. I haven’t been as aware of it with animals, though that makes me think of how both Moses and Conrad came into our lives.
I am a shy person, so usually when I meet new people, I’m pretty quiet. But there are some people that I just instantly connect with and have no trouble talking. I always felt it had to be that kind of connection. On the other hand, there are some people that I just can’t talk to at all no matter how well I know them, so I kind of figured they must be someone I did not get along with in another life!
I hope you get out of your funk soon, I would love to hear what the animal communicator told you about Sampson.
Ha ha, you didn’t have to give me those hints, I knew exactly what you would say to the naysayers without them! 🙂
I don’t think it matters what others think. I do believe in signs and messages from those who have passed on and have too many examples to list here. I believe our souls become bound together with love and it doesn’t matter where we are – we are connected. I cherish that connection.
I absolutely love that idea of souls being bound together, Sue. I knew you to be a true believer, and I think that’s because you have such a big and open heart. ♥
I have definitely experienced reassurances from my Rainbow Bridge pets. It always makes my heart sing ♥
I COMPLETELY believe in signs from pets as well as humans. How in the world did I not know that Sheba passed??? OMG I am so deeply, deeply sorry. How did I not know????? (((hugs))) and love
There are definitely signs (what happened with your father certainly can’t be denied!), and I agree that if it’s just us finding things that make us feel better, then that’s fine too.
We sure do. We think our Benny is a butterfly. At times when we are walking, one flutters around us for several minutes. We say hi my Benny boy
Snorts,
Lily & Edward
I absolutely believe. I’ve had several visits over the years from departed loved ones – Mom, Dad, Kissy, Callie – that were so real that I know it wasn’t my imagination. And others that were just a shadow out of the corner of my eye.
And, no, it doesn’t matter what the skeptics think. I feel sorry for them. If they would open their own hearts, they might find comfort in such visits as well.
Callie has been here with me since I dropped Shadow off at the vet’s yesterday for her dental. And watching over her beloved sister at the same time. We slept in this morning – and are still in bed – but I feel Callie’s spirit nearby, still watching over us. ????
As for the sunshine? It’s part of Callie’s AKC registration name. And the sun is shining outside the bedroom window right now. Our girls have that in common, too. ❤
I love how the sunshine ties Callie and Sheba together in yet another way. Your belief that Callie has always been with you since she passed has helped strengthen my belief as well. ♥
I’m sure that this really happens… and maybe it was Easy who showed us Phoenix… even when I sometimes think it was one of his pranks LOL
I’m so sorry that you lost Maggie this way… that’s the nightmare for all pet owners…
Oh, I absolutely believe that Easy led you to Phoenix – and is guiding him in all his puppiness! 🙂
Thank you for Maggie – that is definitely a nightmare I will never get over, even though it was almost 13 years ago now. That would explain why our current dogs are rarely allowed off-leash. 🙁
I believe that departed souls visit and also guide us to signs that bring comfort or happiness. After my Dad died we would get a really strong smell of pipe tobacco. None of us smoke. There have been countless other happenings too.
I love that the sun shone for you, that must have been comforting. Big hugs. Kisses from Tu-Lei
Thank you, Lorna – and Tu-Lei! I love that every time the sun comes out after a long period of dreariness, I can think of Sheba. It makes it even more special, even though I know she’s probably not involved every time. 🙂
Well that brought some tears to our eyes. We do believe in signs from any departed being. Katie has sent us a lot of signs. We don’t know if we are just more open to the idea or what, but she has really helped out Mom a lot.
How wonderful is it that our dogs do so much for us when they are physically with us, and still continue to do so after they have to leave? ♥
Of course they send you signs from above. My mom and dad come to me often in my dreams, it is so life like that I often feel I need to give back the money they gave me and give my moms rings back. Norman comes to me quite often too and I see things in the other dogs that Norman does. It’s a wonderful feeling and hope it continues for you.
Just yesterday Luke did two different things that Kobi used to always do! I think Kobi must have read my post and decided to send another message. 🙂
Oh I totally believe….totally. Have had too many incidents through my many years to believe otherwise. The most “vivid” was with my Dad after he passed. My pets have truly been “active” in letting me know at least for the first year or so after they’ve gone – that they love and miss us here but they know we feel them in our hearts forever. Sammy is very active in that department – only at night but once in a great while I see a shadow out of the corner of my eye and I know it’s him. I believe spirits are all around us – if we believe in them – we will feel them. Of course not everyone is “open” to that so their experience is different but I for one am truly HAPPY that my heart is open………………..
Love, Pam
I am happy for your that your heart is open too, Pam. I think if I opened mine even a little more I might see more. It seems surprising to me that my Dad’s sign was so much more obvious than my Mom’s. I was far closer to my mother; but I also know I would have had a lot more guilt about my father’s death if he hadn’t let me off the hook with that dream. I think it was his way of making up for years of hard feelings. ♥
I don’t know what to believe. Most of the time, I think it’s us looking for signs – but there are one or two things that have happened to me that I can’t explain away.
I love the song “You are my sunshine”.
I’m sorry you had to say goodbye to Sheba.
I completely understand skepticism; and often doubt my own beliefs. The truth is all the signs in the world can’t bring our loved ones back to us, and all we can do is hope they are true and that means we’ll see them again one day.
Thank you for your sympathies for Sheba, you can probably tell we are still sorely missing her. ♥