A Glimpse into the Other Side Through the Eyes of My Soul: Blessings Pressed Down, Shaken Together, and Running Over

By Louise

Our soul is the part of us that we often do not think much about. Our soul has feelings and emotions. Our soul experiences pain and agony. Our soul laughs and enjoys being full of joy and happiness. Most of all, our soul yearns to be closer to our God. Our soul is the part of us that will live forever throughout eternity with God or away from God.

In A Glimpse into the Other Side Through the Eyes of My Soul, author Louise considers her life’s journey and recognizes it as a wonderful blessing, because she has been called to share many great blessings and hallelujah moments of her life with us. Louise also realizes that she is responsible for sharing the heartbreaking trials and the tear-filled sorrows that she has endured along the way. Louise also knows that her life has been richly blessed and highly favored by her God; therefore, she must continue to write all that her God allows her to write.

Louise is a Christian who loves God the Father; Jesus Christ, her lord and savior; and the Holy Spirit. She is not ashamed of the gospel of Christ. Louise has been chosen—by God—to be a vessel that will share her life’s journey with each and every one of us. A wonderfully amazing gift was given to her that allows her to see what her soul sees, hears, and experiences at various times in her life. Louise’s journey proves God’s existence over and over again as we all realize the similarities of narratives that are also found in the Bible.

• Language: English
• Publisher: WestBow Press
• Release date: May 7, 2019
• ISBN: 9781973661474

Louise

Louise believes she is the best qualified person to share the intricate parts of her life’s journey. Louise has revealed details and circumstances about her life that will surely take you on an emotional journey. Her soul has experienced and seen heavenly secrets. She has also had an encounter with death and the evil one.

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Copyright © 2019 Louise.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the author except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

This book is a work of non-fiction. Unless otherwise noted, the author and the publisher make no explicit guarantees as to the accuracy of the information contained in this book and in some cases, names of people and places have been altered to protect their privacy.

WestBow Press

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Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Getty Images are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Getty Images.

Scripture quotations are taken from the King James Version of the Bible.

ISBN: 978-1-9736-6148-1 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-9736-6149-8 (hc)

ISBN: 978-1-9736-6147-4 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2019906559

WestBow Press rev. date: 6/5/2019

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To my beautiful mother,

Thank you for all of the sacrifices you made to protect, nurture, and provide for me and my siblings. Most of all, thank you for making God a priority in our lives. Today, I am a better Christian, spouse, sibling, mother, grandmother and friend because of what I have learned from you.

To my wonderful husband,

Thank you for being my better half. Thank you for continuing to encourage me to be the vessel that God has called me to be. Together, we are earthen vessels that continue to reveal the blessings and treasures of God. We have endured many trials. We have been perplexed, but never in despair. We have been wronged, but not forsaken. Our lives together have wonderfully proven the love and power of our living God.

I sincerely thank my God for granting me the incredible blessing of being able to share my life, which reveals His power, His blessings, His grace, and His love for all of us. My life’s journey has been amazing as I have been led by the hand of God over and over again.

I understand that this privilege I have been granted is a gift I must treasure, protect, and share with the world. Beautiful treasures are not meant to be hidden from the view of others. This beautiful treasure is one I cannot take for granted. I realize this privilege is rare and precious. I also understand that this wonderful gift I have been blessed with is not normally discussed. Most of all, I realize the blessings of God have never been small, insufficient, or meant to be kept secret.

God allowed me to draw closer to Him, and He drew closer to me. My God allowed me to spend quality time in thought, prayer, and meditation as I decided to surrender to Him. I was blessed to give what I had. I freely gave my will and desires to Him, and He responded according to His delight.

Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you. (Luke 6:38)

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Contents

My Beloved Sister

Satan

Wedding Anniversary

God Always Makes a Way

A Humble Abode

Secret Desires of the Heart

Cloudy Days

Death

Peter

I Am the Clay

The Eternal Soul

A Cross to Bear

My Plea

Christlike

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My Beloved Sister

If you have not had an opportunity to read A Glimpse into the Other Side through the Eyes of My Soul: Seasons of Triumphant Blessings, I encourage you to do so. I have shared my life’s journey, which has been full of fears, tears, and incredible blessings. I have shared my desire to trust and to obey my God. Seasons of Triumphant Blessings ended with a chapter about my beautiful, beloved sister, Marie.

Marie and I often called each other first thing in the morning just to say hello and to see how the other was doing. The conversations were never long; however, these short talks gave each of us the boost we needed to start the day. Most of the time, we did not talk about anything in particular, but I enjoyed our bonding through mini venting sessions. We considered our venting to be judgment-free. We spoke openly and honestly without any tensions. I greatly miss those short early-morning telephone conversations.

One morning Marie was at a leading cancer treatment facility for routine tests and physician visits. She called and said she was proud of me. Marie said she was reading my first professional work and could hear my soft voice as she read page after page. I hear you, Marie said. I know I have some things to work on.

A few days later, Marie called and asked me to pray with her. She hoped God would hear her prayers. She wanted to apologize for anything she may have done that caused hurt or embarrassment in our lives. Marie never meant any harm, but sometimes we find ourselves so caught up in trying to survive that we do not realize how we tarnish our relationships along the way. Marie did the best she could do with the circumstances she faced each day. She desired to restore broken and tarnished relationships in her life while she was still able to do so. My beloved sister was diagnosed with cancer in 2014, and after months of treatments at the cancer facility, Marie died in June 2016.

At the end of May 2016, there was a family gathering, and everyone had a wonderful time visiting with relatives and friends. The original reason for this family fellowship was two graduations in Georgia. Marie returned home earlier than everyone else because she had committed to catering two functions and needed to prepare for them.

My husband, daughters, and I could not attend the gathering because we had a wedding that same weekend. The wedding was beautiful! My husband and I had a wonderful time. We had a chance to laugh, to talk with family and friends whom we didn’t often see, and best of all, to dance.

I was so glad when Marie called me to say she had made it back home safely. I felt as if everything was moving so swiftly. Marie called me on June 2 to say she was not feeling well. We assumed maybe the trip to Georgia had exhausted her more than we thought. Marie said she felt tired, weak, and maybe a little dehydrated. Later that afternoon, Marie called and said she had spoken with her oncologist, who instructed her to go to the emergency room. Marie called me again that day and said the hospital was going to admit her for an overnight stay to run additional tests.

When we talked the next morning, the hospital was still running tests. Marie said she would get back to me once she received the results. I did not hear from her, but I was not alarmed. Later that night, my sister Maria called and asked if I knew Marie was still in the hospital. I did not. Maria and my mom had gone to the hospital that afternoon. I told them I would go first thing in the morning.

I went to the hospital as soon as I awoke on the morning of June 4. Marie and I talked, and we laughed about silly stuff. Marie was in a quiet mood that day. She said the emergency room physician asked her if she realized her eyes were jaundiced. Marie said she told him she hadn’t noticed. With all her aches and pains and feelings of weakness, Marie said, No, I really did not realize the yellowish color of my eyes. We laughed and laughed! This would be the last time we laughed together.

Around 10:30 a.m., an oncologist came in to speak with Marie. This young man was knowledgeable and had a great bedside manner. The physician asked Marie if he could speak in front of me. She introduced us and said it was okay. He explained the severity of Marie’s condition. The cancer had spread to her vital organs. Marie was jaundiced, and her bilirubin numbers were rapidly increasing. The numbers needed to stabilize for chemotherapy to take place. If the bilirubin numbers did not stabilize, Marie would no longer qualify as a candidate for chemotherapy. The physician said that without chemotherapy, Marie would not survive. Yet if Marie did receive chemotherapy, her body would not have the ability to fight off the chemotherapy toxins. This was a hard conversation to hear. Surgery of any kind was no longer an option.

Marie sat up in bed and we talked. Marie was sorry she couldn’t share more time with me. She also felt sorry about leaving her daughter in our care, because she did not want us to bear the burden of raising a minor child. But Michelle is not a burden for any of us. She is a gift from God and is precious in every way. Marie said she felt tired, and she continued to drift off to sleep throughout the day. My wonderful, loving mother and I talked all day.

On June 5, a great outpouring of love filled the hospital room. Family and friends visited from morning until night. Several friends traveled hours to sit and talk with Marie. They spent countless hours so the family could go home and rest. So many people wanted to spend just a few more minutes with Marie.

On June 6, more blood work and tests were done. Later that morning, a surgical procedure was scheduled to place a shunt in Marie’s lower back to help pass urine out of the body. Marie’s eyes looked more yellow than before, and her skin started to exhibit a yellowish color. We still had hoped that all would work out well and that Marie would come home. Throughout the day, Marie and I talked about what to do should she die. Marie continued to apologize for putting me in the position of caring for her daughter. Marie said we (her siblings) needed to help take care of our mother. Isn’t it amazing that when a person sees death is near, she is willing to reveal the real cares of her heart? We did not talk about things undone. We did not consider what could have happened. We just talked about sister types of things. We existed together for that short time as sisters and best friends. Several times that day, Marie told my mom and me she was going to die. Marie would say, You know I am dying, right?

On the morning of June 7, a social worker came in to speak with us about Marie and her condition. She was a compassionate person. She made us comfortable and asked us to share our thoughts and feelings with her. She talked with us about how severe Marie’s condition was and said we needed to start thinking about hospice. My mother still thought Marie would get better and come home. This was not the case. The social worker explained that Marie was not going to get better.

My mother and I talked about hospice and what we might have to do moving forward. We agreed a facility would be the best option for all of us. Our only desire was that Marie would receive the absolute best care possible during the final days of her life. The social worker provided us with information to read and to discuss with our family. The hospital began its internal processes. I didn’t think my mom understood what was taking place even though Marie kept telling us, You know I am dying.

My family and I are close. We all desired to keep each other informed as much as possible. As soon as I heard details about Marie’s condition, I shared the information. I didn’t feel the need to keep anything hidden from my mother or my siblings. We were able to make the best decisions because we were all involved, informed, and knowledgeable about the care Marie received during this difficult time. We all had feelings and questions we needed to talk through with each other.

On the morning of Wednesday, June 8, I decided to go to work for a few hours so I could take care of a few details. I also wanted to give other family members and friends a chance to share private time with Marie. While at work, I attended the weekly staff meeting. During the meeting, the receptionist came in on two occasions because I had telephone calls at the front desk. I was asked to bring the power of attorney papers to the hospital. Marie wanted to receive chemotherapy. That day seemed to have been stressful and chaotic. Marie was unable to reach her primary oncologist at a cancer treatment facility. Throughout the day, every time Marie called she was told to leave a message.

I was asked to sign the hospice papers. After I signed them, we all went to talk with Marie because she needed to be informed about the transition from the hospital to the hospice facility. We were very fortunate because the facility we selected had a room available. God blessed us with everything we needed to facilitate Marie’s care. God worked out all of the details so we would not suffer additional distress. There were no horror stories. We did not experience any delays. What a beautiful blessing it is to trust in the Lord! Every little detail worked out without any issues.

Later that afternoon Marie’s primary oncologist called back. After talking with Marie, the oncologist spoke with the head nurse at the nursing station. I don’t know what was said, but within twenty minutes the oncologist on duty and the hospital’s chief oncologist came into the room to speak with Marie. One oncologist said they would administer the lowest dosage of chemo possible to Marie. We were again informed about the severity of Marie’s condition. If chemotherapy was not administered, Marie would die. On the other hand, if chemotherapy was administered, Marie would die because of the toxins. Later that night, Marie received a very low dosage. That afternoon, the family had been asked to leave the hospital facility so Marie could rest after receiving chemotherapy. We all understood the risks.

On Thursday, June 9, we talked again with the social worker about transitioning Marie to the hospice facility. All of the paperwork was completed, and the move was scheduled for Friday. I sat on the side of the bed, holding Marie’s hand. Marie asked if I was afraid. I said yes. My mom asked Marie if she was afraid. Marie shook her head in affirmation and said yes. I immediately told Marie that she had always been there for us and that we were all there for her. Marie turned to lie on her side and went to sleep.

This immediately reminded me of a vision I had had in November of the previous year. That Thanksgiving holiday, we had family in from Georgia. I love my aunt Elizabeth because she has always been a solid rock for the entire family. Elizabeth has never been one to overreact. She has always been fair, impartial, and level-headed, qualities most people do not possess. Elizabeth is a Christian who has spent her life being an inspiration to all of us. During the holiday, I had an opportunity to talk with my aunt about the vision I had. I saw Marie lying in a hospital bed. As the nurse began to speak, I saw my soul observing Marie. Each time the nurse spoke she would point to papers in her hand. Every time I looked at Marie, the nurse’s words were silenced. I saw her speaking, but I could not hear or understand what she was saying. My soul looked again at Marie, but this time the hospital bed was empty. Marie was gone. The staff began washing the bed clean of toxins.

Back in November I assumed Marie was going to have surgery and would not survive the operation. My assumption was not completely accurate. Marie had surgery but did not die. Her death did not result from a surgical procedure.

At the hospital on Friday morning, Marie seemed alert and was talking. The social worker came in to make sure the transition to the hospice facility would go smoothly. The ambulance arrived at the hospital, and the emergency medical technicians made their way upstairs to transport Marie. We had all of Marie’s belongings packed and were ready for the relocation. We had nothing to worry about. The hospice facility was neat and spotlessly clean. There were no horrible smells or unnecessary distractions. My family had the option of staying all day. The facility offered twenty-four-hour care that we could not have provided at home. Family and friends visited the entire weekend. Many friends came and sat for hours with Marie so the family could take a break. One of Marie’s friends, Pam, came very early in the morning before going to work every day. Another of Marie’s friends cleared her calendar and spent endless hours talking with family and friends. How can a person repay such acts of care, kindness, and generosity? Marie was loved by many.

On Saturday, June 11, I had a vision that brought comfort and closure to my soul. I saw my soul watching Marie sleep in the hospice room. I saw an angel appear before my soul. The angel stood at the end of the hospice bed, looked over at my soul, and pointed to Marie. As I turned to look at Marie, I saw a misty vapor rise up from her body. I felt weak and unable to move. I experienced a great surge of sadness. My heart began to race, and I felt as if it would burst out of my chest. I did not want to keep looking, but I could not stop. I wanted to see what was happening to my sister. My soul appeared ready to faint. An angel grabbed hold of my soul, and we walked down a long, narrow road that appeared before us. The longer we walked, the dimmer the vision became. But I was no longer afraid.

As I continued to look, an opening appeared before me. I stood on one side of the opening, and the angel stood on the other. I could not understand why the vision was becoming dimmer the more I watched. I strained my eyes to try to see and leaned forward to get a closer look. I could not. Through the dim, gloomy view I had, I saw rows of beds covered with white cloth. I had a glimpse of the place where the souls of Christians go to wait until the Lord comes again.

The angel knelt down beside one of the beds, and as he looked at me, he pointed to Marie’s soul. Everything was peaceful, pleasant, and beautiful. As I continued to strain my eyes to see, the opening slowly began to close. As layer upon layer of bricks covered the opening, I understood that this glimpse was granted to me as comfort and reassurance. I could not get any closer to viewing