I'D LIKE TO SHARE A TRUE STORY WITH YOU, a story of events that changed my life as well as my perspective on many things. It proved to be a time of facing some of my fears, finding unconditional faith and learning to trust the Divine as well as allowing a two and a half year old to lead the way. While I have had many experiences through the years, this one stands in the forefront of my mind due to the way it all unfolded.

At the time, I'd had several spiritual experiences but I was not at the point of being willing to speak to others about such things. I had been called 'Crazy' one too many times and decided to keep what I saw and heard to myself. Then I ran into some very encouraging people who were open and occasionally discussed such things, so I began to open up and share a few of my own experiences. In doing so I not only felt them embrace the story, but they also embraced me, which was very empowering and assisted greatly in my growth. I began to try to understand what was happening instead of shoving it back in a closet somewhere hoping it would go away.

Finally, I was learning to embrace some of the spiritual events that had taken place in my life. On that specific Thursday morning, one of the individuals (and I will change names for the sake of privacy) overhead a conversation I was having with a friend at lunch in the break room. Of course, I was careful to whom I spoke of such events, but to my surprise several weeks later, the same lady came to me asking for help. "Sure, what's wrong?" I questioned, thinking it was work related.

"Alex, my 2 1/2 year old (almost 3) is having a problem. You see, when there is a thunderstorm or it rains he can't sleep."

I waited for her to continue simply nodding encouragement, "Yes, and..?"

"Well, the past several times this has happened, my husband and I go in to check on him because he is crying and well, when I ask him what is wrong, he says, "Where is my mommy?"

I tell him, "I'm right here, here is Mommy," and I reach for him, but he withdraws shaking his head and asks where his daddy is! My husband just stares at me and I stare back at him. We have a problem, and I overheard your conversation the other day and wanted to see if you could help."

"Have you questioned Alex when he is not in the middle of this?" I asked now realizing this was most certainly not work related. It was obvious she felt she was stepping out on a limb, but little did she know I had been on that very limb only months prior wondering just how honest I could be with a certain individual about one of my experiences.

"Yes, I did last night and he tells me it is 'the little girl'", she said using her fingers to quote Alex's reference. She continued, "She has a dog and he doesn't like 'the big dog.'" Again, she used her hand to reiterate his statement. "He is obviously afraid of the dog but not the little girl. Interesting that he doesn't seem to know me when the crying starts. I think it is her speaking through him Is that possible?"

"Hmmm Yes it is possible but unusual I don't know what I can do, but I would be glad to come over and see if I can pick up anything or help if you'd like for me too." I heard myself volunteering. ("Now what the heck do you think you can do," I asked myself, "especially when you know sometimes that you hear and see, but most certainly can't control anything.")

Well, she invited me over. On Saturday morning I found myself sitting at my desk at home, praying for a solution to this situation, and once again questioning myself.

What was I thinking? Was I chasing windmills? Was I crazy? Now what? Then I heard something. It startled me. I looked around but no one was there. I heard a voice say, "Take a blue feather." That took the cake. Where the heck was I going to get a blue feather in less than 30 minutes and still arrive on time? Gosh, I thought, I have to be more specific in my prayers.

Then I heard the voice again, "Take a blue feather."

So I asked, "Where am I going to find a blue feather at this time?

"Get J's", I heard. Then it hit me. My son had a macaw feather on the bow he'd made, so I went into his bedroom and asked for it and he said, "Sure take it." I cut it loose and headed out with feather in one hand and keys and directions in the other.

On the way over, I asked again about the situation. I was told that the child had died during a terrible wind and thunderstorm, hit by a falling tree. The dog was not a dog at all but rather a wolf, which is why Alex didn't like the dog. Now that made sense to me. I asked for the child's name and her age. I was told her name was Morning Flower and she was four-and-a-half years old. The voice continued, telling me that Morning Flower's father was Blue Eagle and that the blue feather would tell her I had come to help her. The warm voice explained that her father gave a blue feather to all who were trusted and family. I rode on toward their house and found myself in deep prayer for someone to come and guide and assist in this little one's crossover.

Upon arriving at the house, I took a deep breath and again asked for divine guidance. As I waited for someone to come to the door, I tied the blue feather to my key chain so it didn't look too strange. I was surprised to see Alex open the door and smile up at me with his big dimpled grin. He had sparkling eyes and looked very much the picture of a happy-go-lucky-without-a-care-in-the-world little boy. I could feel his openness and free spirit. Just behind him his mother smiled and welcomed me, introducing me to both her children.

Alex took one look at the key ring in my hand and simply said, "Little Girl has a blue feather." The statement caused his mother to swing around in mid-step and look back at us. I smiled, hoping to ease her nervousness.

"Does she?" I questioned, and then asked, "Can you tell me about her?"

He smiled at me, flashing that dimpled grin, and then went back to playing. Alex's Mother and I talked about other things. As she was telling me about the past several days, I felt what I would call a shy presence beside me. I silently greeted her, "Hello Little One I have come to help."

Alex looked up from the train he was playing with and said, "Gonna help Little Girl?" and he smiled. His mother was still talking away and was taken by surprise when Alex responded. I had telepathically sent a message, knowing the spirit child could hear me, but what surprised me was that Alex heard me too. I couldn't help but chuckle, because, at that point I realized just how intuitive and open he was. I couldn't help but adore him as the earth child filled with laughter and play as well as the wise soul who hadn't forgotten who he was.

I felt the tingling abate and I watched as he got up and, without a word, headed toward his room. I knew this was Morning Flower, not Alex, just as Alex's mother knew that she had not been talking to her son on previous occasions. She went on to tell me more details about Morning Flower. She had long dark hair according to Alex and dark eyes and she was sad and scared to be outside in the rain. We sat and talked on as the wind picked up and a soft rain began to fall. I found it strange considering it had been a bright warm summer day when I had arrived but now it was stormy looking outside.

I began to wonder how to continue when suddenly I heard crying coming from a back room. I looked at Alex's mother and said, "May I?" She nodded and I headed down their hall to Alex's room. One look told me he was not the smiling, carefree child of moments before. I heard his mother and her other son behind me in the hallway but I waved them away with a reassuring smile. Once inside Alex's room I sat down on the edge of his bed and watched in amazement at what was unfolding. The happy-go-lucky child of moments before was now cowering on the bed with the covers pulled up over half his face. All you could see were huge teary eyes peering from just above the edge of the blanket. Small whimpering sounds and quiet tears were evident and small hands trembled under the blanket. I decided not to address him as Alex for I had no doubt it was not Alex but instead a young girl. This was the conversation that followed:

"Morning Flower, I have come to help you."

"Where is my mommy?" the child asked through tears.

"Oh Sweetie, please stop crying I know where your mother is, but to help you find her I need you to stop crying and listen to me."

"I want my mommy," she said again.

"Yes Sweetie, but for me to help you find her I have to have you calm down and listen to me because mommy can't come here. You have to go where she is. She is waiting for you." I heard myself say. After a few minutes I continued, "Is your wolf here?"

"Uh huh"

"Ok, now when you get ready I want you to take my hand and I will tell you what to do to find your mommy." I waited finally feeling a small hand reach out from under the cover and take mine. I had my eyes closed at this point. "You ready?" I asked he. She was still stifling sobs.

"Uh huh"

"Ok, then let me tell you where your mommy is. She is in a place that is very beautiful and full of bright light. The light is what tells you that you are headed in the right direction. When you see it, I want you to walk toward it and when you get close you will see your mommy. Can you be a big girl and do that for me?"

"Uh huh", more confidently this time.

"Ok, for me to do this I need to be able to talk to Alex. I need him here with me, holding my hand and then he and I can help you. So I need you to get your wolf and when you see the light tell Alex. Do you understand what I am telling you?"

"Uh huh", was the final word before the grip on my hand grew tighter.

I pictured the white light flowing down from Heaven and filling the room and lighting the way for this precious child. I asked God to send helpers to assist her to find her way and as I was in prayer asking for these things, Alex suddenly said, "Wow Bright Light", and he squeezed my hand.

I questioned him, "Can you see the little girl?"

"Yes Wow!"

"Is she going into the light? Is she walking toward it?"

"Yes."

"Is the doggie with her?"

"Yep, dog gone," he stated. I opened my eyes and there before me was the same dimpled grin, free spirit that I had met upon my arrival. He smiled and bounced off the bed and ran down the hall toward the kitchen where his mother was. I quickly followed and walked into the kitchen in time to hear him telling his mother, "Mommy, dog gone."

She questioned him, "Alex, honey did the little girl go too?"

"Yes, she go home Mommy."

"Did she find her Mommy?" she questioned him. I stood back and listened wanting confirmation myself.

"Her Mommy had big happy face," he said picking up a cookie that was waiting for him on the table.

"Wow how did that happen?" she said more a statement, but he answered to her surprise.

"Me and Grandma helped show her the light, Mommy, and she go home. Me and Grandma did it." He quickly turned and pointed to me. Keep in mind I had never seen this child before.

My turn to question, "Alex, why did you call me Grandma?"

"You silly Grandma, you know you my Grandma," he stated and began to laugh at me and munch on the cookie. I couldn't help but laugh with this delightful child. I stayed and we had lunch together on this unforgettable day for all of us. As for Alex, I have a feeling he has many more beautiful things ahead.

This was not the last time I would see Alex. His mother and I worked together at the time, and one day she brought him with her. We had morning meetings and I smiled as she brought him into the conference room with managers and other administrators present. He proceeded to point and say "Over there... Over there, Mommy beside Grandma." Of course, everyone laughed and wondered what that was all about considering I am younger than his mother and we are not related. It made me all warm inside to hear him call me that, so I couldn't deny there was truth in that statement. I must have been his grandmother at some point in time.

Several months later my grandmother passed away in my arms. It had happened late one evening and the next morning early, I received a phone call. No one but close family members knew of my grandmother's death at this time. I answered the phone and it was Alex's mother, "Alex is insisting on talking to Grandma so I called my mother, but he slammed the phone down and told me I was calling the wrong grandma. I then started to call my husband's mother and again he fussed at me about it being the wrong grandma. Then it hit me who he was asking for, so, do you have a minute to talk to him? I don't have a clue what he wants he won't say anything but get Grandma."

I said, "It's ok", and she put him on the line. I don't think she expected what he said next and, to be honest, it surprised me as well.

"You okay?" he asked immediately.

"Yes Alex, I am fine." I answered and before I could continue

He said, "Sure you okay? She go home too."

Then I realized that he knew my grandmother had passed away. "Yes, Sweetie, she went to Heaven and I am fine," I reassured him. I could hear his mother in the background gasp so I started to change the subject. "So how are you doing? Have you been having fun?"

"Yes, been watching Batman."

"Well I am glad you have been having fun." I told him

"Ok, just wanted see you ok?" he sort of questioned me again.

"Yes, honey I'm really fine&and so is she"

"Ok... good Bye" and he was gone I waited for his mother to pick up the phone.

"Oh Leslie, did she pass away? I'm sorry I didn't know," she said in a rush of words. My grandmother was an early Alzheimer's patient so, it was known that her health was not up to par, but her death, which had been heart-related, had been unexpected.

There are many children out there like Alex, and humanity needs to wake up and listen to these guiding little ones. They are very enlightened and full of love. They are not as conditioned as we have grown to be and they haven't forgotten the attributes of Spirit and Home. I have found that when things like this happen I often look for a logical or acceptable answer. I have come to realize the scope is much larger than that and if we strive to embrace that openness there are countless blessings to be found. These young masters are open and they have much to teach us if we will listen. The question is, "Are we ready to listen?"

I haven't seen or spoken to Alex by what most would call normal means since that day he called, but every now and then this Grandma sends thoughts of love and big hugs to one special little boy.

© Leslie Palacio, 2003

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Leslie Palacio (Promise) has a wide array of experience, from art to computer programming and business. She graduated Dean•s List in the field of accounting and currently is a Software Configuration Manager in the computer software industry.

Leslie's clairaudient abilities began in her childhood and quickly were dismissed out of fear, like so many others. In the late 80's, her first loving wake-up call arrived with the birth of her son, whom credits for lovingly pointing the way. He was followed closely by his sister, who came in seeing, hearing, remembering and most certainly talking about it, which caused questions and confusion as well as many other challenges and blessings.

Leslie's desire to understand and assist these free spirits set her on a journey to find answers. She has since become an USUI Reiki Master and works with Reiki, Acu-Tuning and other guided healing techniques as well as channeling. Sacred Passage ~ Hidden Treasures, Journey Into the Sacred Entrance Long Forgotten, her first book was published in December 2001. If you are interested in arranging a lecture, workshop, class, or any other engagement, you may contact Promise at Promise@SacredWinds.com.