A Sign from Heaven

By Esmeralda Kiczek
One of my dear friends and my spiritual adopted sister, passed away on September 3rd.  I first met her when we became parishioners at our current parish, 13 years ago, we became friends right away, she was very sweet and kind. She always prayed for my family and for me. I was very blessed to know her. She loved God with all her heart and He was always the center of her life. She never married; she dedicated her life to growing in the love of God and to share her love for Him with others. We talked on the phone often almost once a week, but as she got older, it became evident that she could not live alone, so her great nieces took her in to live with them. It was a great blessing  to have her family close to her. Before she moved, she gave me a glass dome with St. Therese, Our lady of Lourdes, St. Gerald Majella, and the Infant of Prague in it. This dome has always been in her family, her parents passed to her and she gave it to me, it made me feel special. We both shared the same love for St. Therese. After she moved, I went to visit her for her 98th birthday and her nieces gave her a surprise party. She was very happy to see me and my family. 

This is the dome she gave me

When I learned of her passing, I immediately said a short prayer and I asked her to send me a sign to let me know that she did not need any more prayers. It was during Mass that I learned that she had passed away. When I got home from church, my husband unlocked the door and as I entered, right on the ledge of my entrance door, I noticed the biggest praying mantis that I have ever seen. I knew immediately that the praying mantis was the sign that she was sending me. I thank God for giving me the honor of knowing Margot and sharing His love with her.  

​We weren't sisters by birth, but God brought us together to be sisters by heart . You will always remain in heart until we meet again dear friend!