Ghosts Among Us - James Van Praagh [19]
Janice and Mike had made many attempts to get Peter clean and sober, but after several stints in drug rehab Peter had returned to his heroin addiction. Janice had to face the fact that the addiction had a strong grip on her son, and there was very little that she could do except pray. Janice’s faith was strong, but it seemed that only a miracle would help.
Then something interesting happened. Peter broke off with Stacey and returned home. He said he didn’t want to hurt his family anymore and wanted to grow up. By then, Peter had joined the Marines. “He said that he wanted to become a man. His father and I were very proud of Peter’s decision.”
After Peter sailed through basic training, he was immediately sent to the war in Iraq. He was a good soldier who felt he had something to prove, not only to himself but also to his family. “We all worried about Peter, but at least we knew where he was and what he was doing.” Peter finished three tours of duty in Iraq before being honorably discharged. The whole family was so sure that Peter had become a changed man. To them, he was certainly a hero in every respect.
However, within a year after his discharge, Peter was back on heroin. On Christmas morning 2004, Janice and Mike found their son dead in his room from a drug overdose.
After Janice finished her story, I told her that I was very sorry for her tragic loss. I could feel her hurt and pain. At that moment, I heard the sound of whimpering behind me. It was very distinct, so I looked around. There sat a young man.
I’m Peter, he told me. I could tell he was also in a lot of pain. He said he hadn’t slept in a long time and felt like he was in a nightmare. I asked him to look around and tell me what he saw.
It’s very dark here, and people are crying. He then described what happened at death. I woke up, but I could not get back into my body. I could hear my mother crying.
I mentally sent Peter the thought that he was free now.
I feel imprisoned by my own thoughts, and it’s hell. I feel so guilty for blaming my mother for my own problems. Now I see very clearly how much I hurt her. All I want to do is tell her I’m sorry.
At this point, I had to explain to Janice about my abilities. She wept. “I’ve been sitting here asking for a sign that my son was all right.”
“Your son is in a lot of pain because of the guilt he feels,” I said to Janice. “Many came to get him and bring him through the tunnel of light, but he refused to go. Do you understand?”
Janice wiped the tears from her eyes.
“Your son feels that he doesn’t deserve happiness. He can’t leave until you know how sorry he is for not loving you in the way you deserved. He says that he blamed you for his life turning out the way it did because he didn’t want to take responsibility for it.”
Janice relayed a story about Peter when he was nine years old. “There was this sudden rainstorm, and I was outside trying to finish up my gardening. Peter yelled from the porch to come inside before I got sick, but I stayed out another half hour to finish. Naturally, the next morning I was sick with a fever and cold. Peter took care of me. He made me breakfast and stayed by my side like a good little nurse. He even read to me. He was a great son who loved me very much.”
As Janice told her story, I could see Peter’s arms wrap around his mother in a hug. She could feel his energy around her. She looked up to the heavens and said, “I love you, Peter. You are my son, and I forgive you! I just want you to be happy!”
With those words, Peter’s energy changed. He seemed mentally and emotionally lighter. His features became clearer and sharper to me. He thanked me and gave his mother a final message.
“He wants you to know that be it rain or shine, he will always love you.”
Peter was finally free to go, and in an instant he was gone. Janice too was free. She could miss her son and mourn his loss, but she could go on living her life, knowing that she would see Peter again on the other side.
Like Peter, there are many spirits who are confused and distressed because of unfinished earthly