I had a experience in 1987 that frightened me but helped bring to the surface my gift, that in my novice state, I wish to call " The Knowing". It was later repeated to me in a phone call from my daughter when she experienced the same event. From what we could gather the event was on or about the same time.

I want to clarify this experience by saying that before this incident, I had never before thought of the Spirits as anything but what I was taught in church. It was explained as the Spirit of God, the Holy Spirit;the third person in the Holy Trinity, but in my unopened eyes, it was something that I knew little about. Then there were movies that showed ghosts floating around scaring people and of course Casper the Friendly Ghost. What was a person to believe anyway?

The event began when I opened my eyes in my bedroom in the dead of night. The moon shone through the window so brightly and I could see clearly. This room I shared with my husband and he was sleeping soundly to the left of me. I don't remember what awakend me, but I sat up in the bed and was frightened so severly that I was frozen in place. I knew without a doubt that this was a man standing at the foot of our bed. I could manage, after what seemed like a lifetime of just staring at this person, was to reach out toward my husband very slowely to touch his sholder and whisper his name.

I remember so clearly reaching out and calling his name and he responding quickly. He seening no one there, remarked "you must be dreaming". At that very moment I spoke my husband's name the man was gone. I was still shaking but tried to tell him what the person looked like. His coat, his hat and then I remember saying "oh, my gosh it looked like my grandpa", his style of overcoat and brimmed hat that I had seen him wear all the while I was growing up. Needless to say that rest of the night was relatively sleepless.

I believe now, after that fearful night, was the beginning of my co-habition with the spirits. This next revelation was; and is now, a shocker to me. When my daughter, living in california, called a month or so later stated that she wanted to tell me something that she experienced one night about a month before, I started listning to what she was telling me in shock . She repeated the story that I had just told you, except the person seeing the man at the end of the bed was she and the husband was hers.

How or why did this happen to both of us? What was the purpose of this two fold visit in the night? I believe I know that answer. We both share the this connection with the spirits. She will speak for herself.

I have discovered something that I never knew about about myself during this time. Because I believed that the man who sought me out was my grandpa, my dad's father. I know that I have a link to my family that has passed and those who live today. I hear my mothers voice that wakes me in the night. (verified by my husband that tries to be a sceptic) I feel this energy or force however you may want to explain it. Sometime I just know things and can't explain how I know them.

How do I explain this to you or even to myself. It sought me out to feel my fathers need when He had a heart attack, and so strong to interupt my thoughts and stop my work. I knew that it was he that was in danger. I knew that the call would come for me and I phoned my home to find out what was wrong with him. It sought me out to heed my sisters need in her grave condition, for my and grandfathers need in his suicide, for council for my childern's needs, and when a friend was in his last hours it called out to me to help bear his pain. I have stated in a blog that I have written recently "Why me and for what purpose". I think only the Spirit of God knows and when it is time; he will share it with me.

For this reason I will begin to read all I can on this subject so I may learn about this gift I was given and how to use it to help. I do realize that this "knowing" comes with a responsibility I choose freely to accept. If anyone wishes to help me understand please reply.

I felt the need to add my thoughts on my mothers story.
My short time here on UM I have read many stories about others experiences
with the spirits. It always seems there are those who jump at the chance to tell them prove it.
Most seem to be those who have never had anything like this happen to them.
I believe you must be open to this sometimes scary wonderful experience.
For some reason there are those of us who from a very young age have been better at seeing,hearing, feeling or sensing,
I believe this knowing is very real and natural.
I will put it like this, if someone were to say, if you spend all your time talking you will never hear!
If you don't take the time to look you will never see! or if you don't try and touch you will never feel!
My mothers story about the man at the end of our beds did in fact happen. Why did my grand dad appear at the end of my
bed? This is something I've asked myself many times. I wonder because I don't remember my great grand parents very well.
I can tell you and describe in detail each piece of furniture and its place in there home. but if you ask my mother, she can't explain to you how.
How do I remember this home when I only went into it when I was an infant cuddled in my mothers arms.
I get very strong feelings about things when my mother is near me. I feel a very strong connection with her.
I have two daughters and a son one of my daughters is very much like her mom to. She to had experiences as a child.
Her father and I heard people talking to her at night from our room below hers. She giggled and played until we went to her to find no one there, she would point and smile to the closet in her room.
So I do think this is passed down in families. I to as a child remember seeing my first ghost around 4 years old.

I never felt the need to prove this but always felt the need to help those who ask for my help. I would never claim to have powers
or even that I always get it right. but I can say I'm learning to use and except these gifts given me.

I think that you explained it very well. Thanks for the reply.

Is there anyone out there that share anything like this with their family Mom, sister?