Then one night, for no apparent reason, my sister Mildred (or Mim as we called her) lay heavy on my mind. They had found her dead in her home about a year or so before, and I had gone home to her funeral. I missed her very much (and still do) and the thought of her made me very sad.

That night as I stood in the darkness looking up at the zillion stars in the sky, my thoughts were not only of Mim, but the sadness I felt only begat more sadness as I thought of the loss of my dad and mom, of my son and two of my older sisters. I can only describe the feeling I had as being very lonesome.

I fought back the tears as I stood there and spoke to God of these losses and how they made me feel. I guess I poured out my whole heart to Him. Of all the things to say to God, I suddenly said, "God, I could use a hug." I no more had gotten the word "hug" out of my mouth when I began to experience a tingling sensation in my feet. That same tingling then proceeded up my legs, through my body and up through my head.

As I stood there, the tingling completely engulfed my whole being and continued in this manner for about ten seconds. The sensation then went away just as it had come. The only way I can describe the feeling is that I felt as if I had had a complete cleansing from head to foot. The sadness was gone, and a feeling of "everything is ok...everything is as it should be."

I stood there in complete awe, savoring that moment. There were two thoughts that were indelibly imprinted on my mind. The first thought was the conviction that my family members who had gone on before me were all safe and sound, and I was grateful and thankful to realize that.

And the second conviction I will carry with me forever is the fact that on that night, in that place, God, like any parent whose child hurts, drew me to Him and gave me a hug of love.