Here is a hearwarming and inspiring true story from the April 2006 DHN newsletter. Written by Sheryl Smith, who wrote:

I was first introduced to the DHN last October when my sister, Linda, 53, was getting close to making her transition after battling multiple sclerosis for over 25 years. A friend had given her name to the DHN for healing and it was so comforting to me to receive emails from healers around the world. I know all the love sent in the form of healing energies was a real help to Linda and our family during her passing.

In memory of Linda, I have an experience I'd like to share that I'll call "Linda's Butterfly":

My other sister, Nancy, and I were fortunate to be with Linda the last few days before she passed. We sang to her, gave her Reiki, reminisced over childhood memories of pets and bad 60's haircuts (she was our 'big' sister and sometimes - to our mother's dismay, our hairstylist!) and talked, talked, talked to her! We kept telling her she would be free like a butterfly soon - and have her angel wings to be free again after not having the use of her body for so many years. Nancy kept saying to Linda, "You'll be like one of those busy little erratic butterflies that flutter around your head, since you'll be busy- busy, making up for lost time!"

A couple of days later, when Linda passed, we put a little silk butterfly on the flowers to be placed on top of her casket, to remind us not to be sad for her, but to celebrate because she was FREE! The morning of her funeral, we were thinking how, since it would be an outdoor service, it would be nice if Linda gave us a sign that she was watching, so we asked her to send a real butterfly to join us.

Well, just as the chaplain began the service and started speaking, a butterfly flew into the area (open-air with walls but had arches on each end) where we were gathering and landed on a rose on the wall behind him. He couldn't see the butterfly, but Nancy and I grabbed hands and the tears began to flow when we saw it!

The little butterfly sat there gently moving its wings through the whole service. Then, after everyone had a turn to speak that wanted to, the Chaplain began to end the service by saying how Linda was an artist in life and when we see the examples of beauty - the Creator's art in nature - we will think of her and know she is in peace.

Just then the butterfly flew out from behind him (fluttering erratically!) then lingered momentarily just above each one of our heads - as if to acknowledge us and to say "I'm still here and I am free!" - and then flew out through the center archway. It was the most beautiful thing I've ever seen. Everyone saw the butterfly and was so excited... even though at that time, they didn't know we had asked for a sign from Linda earlier that morning, and what it meant to us.

Now I keep seeing butterflies - real and artistic ones - it seems everywhere - on everything! In fact, when I returned home from being out of town a week for the funeral, I opened cards that had come in the mail and - voila - many more butterflies!

I just loved the saying on this one....

"What the caterpillar calls

the end of the world,

the Heavens call

a butterfly"

... author unknown

And in the months since Linda's passing, many friends and strangers have shared their similar stories with me involving a loved one departed and a butterfly, a bird, or a dragonfly that came as a little 'messenger' of love and connection between our worlds, giving a clear knowing that their loved one is still near. There is something precious and healing here in these experiences. I would love to hear more of these stories if anyone reading this has one to share. It is my wish to provide inspiration and healing, by compiling these "butterfly stories" in Linda's memory, to share with others who are grieving. I think she would like that.

Thanks for all you do as part of the Distance Healing Network... it is really special. And thanks for creating a place like this for healers like me to reach out and connect with others around the planet, one heart at a time.

In Gratitude and Love,

Sheryl Smith