Unexplained Message Via Facebook

I hadn't planned to share this one, but Silverthane's great story about the candle blowing out at the church (Spirit Wind) motivated me. Of all of my "experiences" this one is the most weird and far out, I think, so I'll just give it my best shot.

I lost a lot of people during the 2012-2013 "school year," including two of my bosses and my mom, whom I was VERY close to. It was a really busy time for me with my immediate family, however, and I had lots going on also in my career, so when I think of some of the things that happened, well, it's not like I dwelled on them. I just soldiered through...

First my bosses died within just a few weeks of each other in the fall of 2012. One had been sick for quite some time and was somewhat expected. He was the publisher of our newspaper and quite well loved. The other was the editor, much younger, also a pillar of our community and died quite unexpectedly. I attended the publisher's funeral, but more on that in a moment.

The following March, Mom passed away from cancer. She had not been to the doctor and had never mentioned she was feeling badly until the last few weeks. She'd been very active and led a full life until her last, I'd say, three weeks. I know, crazy.

I've mentioned a few strange occurrences in previous posts and comments about Mom's passing, but this is the one that I have the toughest time wrapping my brain around. I am not a big Facebook person, don't even have an account anymore. I mostly used to just look in on my college kids' photos at the time of Mom's passing.

A day or so after she died, I got a message from my college roommate's mom. I saved it at the time because it was so weird. I cut and pasted it into a document which I have saved for years. Here's the content: From my roommate's mom: "___, I read your comment about your Mom and had no idea. I can't believe it! So very sorry."

Then, there was this strange message, inserted into her comment: "While watching a little TV on Sunday, instead of going to church I watched a Church in Atlanta honoring one of its senior pastors who had been retired many years. He was 92 at that time and I wondered why the Church even bothered to ask the old gentleman to preach at that age. After a warm welcome, introduction of this speaker, and as the applause quieted down he rose from his high back chair and walked slowly, with great effort and a sliding gate to the podium. Without a note or written paper of any kind he placed both hands on the pulpit to steady himself and then quietly and slowly he began to speak...

"When I was asked to come here today and talk to you, your pastor asked me to tell you what was the greatest lesson ever learned in my 50 odd years of preaching. I thought about it for a few days and boiled it down to just one thing that made the most difference in my life and sustained me through all my trials. The one thing that I could always rely on when tears and heart break and pain and fear and sorrow paralyzed me... The only thing that would comfort was this verse...

"Jesus loves me this I know.

For the Bible tells me so.

Little ones to Him belong,

We are weak but He is strong...

Yes, Jesus loves me...

The Bible tells me so."

When he finished, the church was quiet. You actually could hear his footsteps as he shuffled back to his chair. I don't believe I will ever forget it. A pastor once stated, "I always noticed that it was the adults who chose the children's hymn 'Jesus Loves Me' (for the children of course) during a hymn sing, and it was the adults who sang the loudest because I could see they knew it the best."

"Senior version of Jesus Loves Me"

Here is a new version just for us who have white hair or no hair at all. For us over middle age (or even those almost there) and all you others, check out this newest version of Jesus Loves Me.

JESUS LOVES ME

Jesus loves me, this I know,

Though my hair is white as snow

Though my sight is growing dim,

Still He bids me trust in Him.

(CHORUS)

YES, JESUS LOVES ME... YES, JESUS LOVES ME...

YES, JESUS LOVES ME FOR THE BIBLE TELLS ME SO.

Though my steps are oh, so slow,

With my hand in His I'll go

On through life, let come what may,

He'll be there to lead the way.

(CHORUS)

When the nights are dark and long,

In my heart He puts a song.

Telling me in words so clear,

"Have no fear, for I am near."

(CHORUS)

When my work on earth is done,

And life's victories have been won.

He will take me home above,

Then I'll understand His love

(CHORUS)

I love Jesus, does He know?

Have I ever told Him so?

Jesus loves to hear me say,

That I love Him every day.

(CHORUS)

God Bless Us All!

Every day is a gift... That's why it's called the Present"

From Mrs. Ramsay again (trying to make this clear): That entire, lengthy message, was inserted into my friend's Facebook message. After, she continues her message below:

"Can't believe it! So very sorry.

Like · [Comment] ·Unfollow PostFollow Post"

A day or so later, after Mom's funeral, she wrote: "I have no idea how this preacher story got in my message to you!"

I replied: "Really? You didn't write that story? Help me now with this. If you didn't write it, how did it get in there?"

She replied: "I have no idea where that came from. Wish I was so talented! Kinda scary something like that can just pop up out of the blue. I guess it could have been worse. Maybe it's message was good considering the circumstances. Hope you are doing ok. Thinking about you.

16 hours ago via mobile · Like"

Then I replied: "I'm calling it as some kind of spiritual thing that's unexplained. I really don't think prayers pop up because of spammers, and the strangest thing is that the description of the minister at the beginning absolutely describes the guy who did mom's service. Except it popped up in your message two days before the service. Other good things occurred the night she passed, and I'm holding onto them as well, even though some people don't like to think of things, it's just uncomfortable and unexplainable. All good though. And sort of cool. Thanks for... "

So YG'ers, I cut and pasted the above for your perusal. But before I finish, one more quick thing. After a couple weeks, I went back and read the strange, inserted message again. It wasn't ONLY that the message described the old pastor who did Mom's funeral, it was the whole thing about the song.

You see, I realized that the last time I had been in a church was at my boss's funeral. And the commentary in the message about "Jesus Loves Me" relates to the THOUGHTS I had at that time! It was during the singing of the hymns, and I kept messing up because I wasn't familiar with them, and I had wished to myself that it was "Jesus Loves Me" (because I had just re-learned it after many years to teach it to my little ones).

So, I have spam in a Facebook message, unaccountable in the midst of a comment from someone who said she did not write it. It talked about future events (the old pastor) and it talked about my THOUGHTS at the last time I was in church.

Did I get a spiritual message at the time of my mom's death? I think so! (and this was just one of a few). I'd LOVE to hear what you guys think. Hope I did not make it too complicated...