Someone To Watch Over Me
Stories
Vision Stories
True Accounts Of Visions, Angels, And Healing Miracles
In February of 2000, my grandfather, Lloyd Dings, was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. He passed away just twelve days later. My grandparents were married 56 years. The legacy he leaves behind is a wonderful wife and a beautiful family
On the afternoon he died, I sat by Grandfather's side and had a brief conversation with him. We held hands and I cried as we spoke. I told him that I did not want him to leave us, and he replied that he knew, but he had to. I asked him to promise to watch over me when he was gone, and he promised that he would. I also asked him to be with me on my wedding day, to which he replied that he'd try his hardest.
He died six hours later.
That evening, I returned to my parents' home and fell sleep in the basement my grandfather had designed and built. About four hours later I woke, terrified to realize I couldn't move. I had a strong sense that my grandfather was present and standing at the end of the couch looking over me. A cool whisper passed across my face. I tried to make sense of what was happening, but couldn't. Minutes later, I saw tiny white lights in front of me, and the sensation passed. Finally I could move again. I looked behind me, expecting to see my grandfather, but he wasn't there. I looked at the place I had sensed him to be and kept repeating, "I love you, Grandpa, I love you Grandpa." I glanced at the clock, and it was 2:02 a.m. Still somewhat frightened, I turned on all the lights and the television. Eventually I fell back asleep.
The next morning, confused and grief stricken, I spoke with my mother about my experience. Later, we went to my grandmother Kathryn Ding's home, and we discovered something amazing. She had felt his presence at the same time I had.
My grandmother was sleeping in the bed they had shared for so many years, and where my grandfather had died. She awoke feeling as if there was a cloud hovering over her. Rather than feeling frightened, she was comforted by this presence. But she wasn't sure exactly what it meant until I shared my story.
Later that day, I spoke with Alex, my fiance, and shared with him what had happened the night before. At that point, I still could not talk about it without crying. He listened and tried to comfort me. Then Alex told me that the strangest thing had happened to him the night before. He stirred in bed and awoke with a feeling that something was moving about the room. He quickly told himself that it must be the cat, then realized the cat was asleep next to him. We discovered that this occurred near the same time my grandmother and I had our experiences.
Sometimes I lay awake at night and say, "Okay, Grandpa, you can come back and visit me again."
He hasn't, yet, but I know I'll always have him watching over me.
Editor's Note: Lloyd M. Dings was a longtime, faithful member of Wauwatosa Avenue United Methodist Church, where I serve as pastor. I visited with Lloyd in his home the day before he died. His whole extended family and a few friends were gathered in the living room. Lloyd was holding court in his recliner in the study. Kathryn was taking one or two people in at a time, so as not to tire him. When my turn came, I observed that Lloyd was weak, but his spirit was as strong as ever. We talked about many things. It was apparent that Lloyd had made his peace with everyone in this world, that he had finished his work here and was prepared to die with complete trust in God. He said, "I have my faith." As we were finishing our conversation, and as I was preparing to invite the others to come in and join us in prayer, Lloyd said, "John, I have a question for you. When I see my parents, what will they look like? Will they appear old as they were when they died, or will they appear as they were when they were younger?" I shared what I have read in several sources, that people in their spirit bodies generally appear as they were in their prime. But, I admitted that I do not know for sure. I said, "Lloyd, why don't you come back and tell me." Then, I told him that it is possible that he would be able to visit his loved ones after he died, and perhaps be able to communicate with them as Jesus communicated with his disciples after his resurrection.
Kathryn Taughinbaugh
My grandma, Dorothy Taughinbaugh, passed away in 1995, when I was in third grade. It came as a complete shock to me and my family. After she died, almost every Sunday I would pray to God during our silent prayer time, asking to hear her voice one last time.
In August of 2001, just before my sophomore year in high school, I went on my first church mission trip to an Indian reservation in Red Lake, Minnesota. It was very calm and peaceful there, and we had a worship service every night. In the last worship service, during our prayer time, I heard a familiar voice. It didn't sound like the guy who was leading the prayer. The voice said, "I love you and I am always watching over you." This voice was my grandma's, and when I heard it I started crying and couldn't stop, I was so overwhelmed. I'm so happy that God answered my prayer.
On the afternoon he died, I sat by Grandfather's side and had a brief conversation with him. We held hands and I cried as we spoke. I told him that I did not want him to leave us, and he replied that he knew, but he had to. I asked him to promise to watch over me when he was gone, and he promised that he would. I also asked him to be with me on my wedding day, to which he replied that he'd try his hardest.
He died six hours later.
That evening, I returned to my parents' home and fell sleep in the basement my grandfather had designed and built. About four hours later I woke, terrified to realize I couldn't move. I had a strong sense that my grandfather was present and standing at the end of the couch looking over me. A cool whisper passed across my face. I tried to make sense of what was happening, but couldn't. Minutes later, I saw tiny white lights in front of me, and the sensation passed. Finally I could move again. I looked behind me, expecting to see my grandfather, but he wasn't there. I looked at the place I had sensed him to be and kept repeating, "I love you, Grandpa, I love you Grandpa." I glanced at the clock, and it was 2:02 a.m. Still somewhat frightened, I turned on all the lights and the television. Eventually I fell back asleep.
The next morning, confused and grief stricken, I spoke with my mother about my experience. Later, we went to my grandmother Kathryn Ding's home, and we discovered something amazing. She had felt his presence at the same time I had.
My grandmother was sleeping in the bed they had shared for so many years, and where my grandfather had died. She awoke feeling as if there was a cloud hovering over her. Rather than feeling frightened, she was comforted by this presence. But she wasn't sure exactly what it meant until I shared my story.
Later that day, I spoke with Alex, my fiance, and shared with him what had happened the night before. At that point, I still could not talk about it without crying. He listened and tried to comfort me. Then Alex told me that the strangest thing had happened to him the night before. He stirred in bed and awoke with a feeling that something was moving about the room. He quickly told himself that it must be the cat, then realized the cat was asleep next to him. We discovered that this occurred near the same time my grandmother and I had our experiences.
Sometimes I lay awake at night and say, "Okay, Grandpa, you can come back and visit me again."
He hasn't, yet, but I know I'll always have him watching over me.
Editor's Note: Lloyd M. Dings was a longtime, faithful member of Wauwatosa Avenue United Methodist Church, where I serve as pastor. I visited with Lloyd in his home the day before he died. His whole extended family and a few friends were gathered in the living room. Lloyd was holding court in his recliner in the study. Kathryn was taking one or two people in at a time, so as not to tire him. When my turn came, I observed that Lloyd was weak, but his spirit was as strong as ever. We talked about many things. It was apparent that Lloyd had made his peace with everyone in this world, that he had finished his work here and was prepared to die with complete trust in God. He said, "I have my faith." As we were finishing our conversation, and as I was preparing to invite the others to come in and join us in prayer, Lloyd said, "John, I have a question for you. When I see my parents, what will they look like? Will they appear old as they were when they died, or will they appear as they were when they were younger?" I shared what I have read in several sources, that people in their spirit bodies generally appear as they were in their prime. But, I admitted that I do not know for sure. I said, "Lloyd, why don't you come back and tell me." Then, I told him that it is possible that he would be able to visit his loved ones after he died, and perhaps be able to communicate with them as Jesus communicated with his disciples after his resurrection.
Kathryn Taughinbaugh
My grandma, Dorothy Taughinbaugh, passed away in 1995, when I was in third grade. It came as a complete shock to me and my family. After she died, almost every Sunday I would pray to God during our silent prayer time, asking to hear her voice one last time.
In August of 2001, just before my sophomore year in high school, I went on my first church mission trip to an Indian reservation in Red Lake, Minnesota. It was very calm and peaceful there, and we had a worship service every night. In the last worship service, during our prayer time, I heard a familiar voice. It didn't sound like the guy who was leading the prayer. The voice said, "I love you and I am always watching over you." This voice was my grandma's, and when I heard it I started crying and couldn't stop, I was so overwhelmed. I'm so happy that God answered my prayer.
