When Shelly died and crossed over to the other side she was with a light so bright ‘there is nothing on earth to compare it to,’ she explained.

She knew this light to be God.

Just like 90% of all Near-Death Experiencers, Shelly experienced a trip through a tunnel and a Life Review. Only she paused her Review when it came the many times her husband beat her and especially in front of their son.

“Why did you allow this to happen to me?” she asked God.

“Even more, if you’re such an all powerful and loving force, why would you let my son witness this abuse.”

If you’re anything like me, the first time I heard this, I thought, “I’ve wondered this my whole life. No religion has ever given me an answer to why there is so much evil and suffering that made any sense to me.” 

At the time I heard Shelly recount her NDE, I had just experienced a spiritual awakening and I was starting to remember who I really am – a soul who had been on the other side before and will be back there again. 

But I was still a baby in the woods and I thought, “the answer to this question better be good, because I need all the reassurance I can get.”

Further, “If she says that God’s answer was something like the answer most religions give, “because you’re a sinner and you did something earlier that brought this on to you.” I was going to lose all my faith in NDEs. 

I don’t know about you, but I knew God didn’t punish us for our sins, but I felt like I was the only one who felt this way. And I still didn’t know why He allowed so much evil if He is an all-loving God.

And then the answer.

God said to Shelly, “I didn’t do this to you. I did it for you and your son.”

Then God showed Shelly the future her son would create with a family that shared and gave 10x more love than the violence and fear that was put on him.

“Your son has said that he would never be the kind of father he had and he’s become a strong man who protects his wife and family and expresses the love they’ve found despite the abuse.”

When I heard these words, I began to cry. 

“I remember. I remember now. I knew there was a reason I couldn’t accept that this was done to us. I knew it.” I exclaimed.

It all made sense to me now. I felt so liberated and free. 

“Of course it’s done for us”, the memories came back in pieces but I knew this was the truth. 

The only way to know light is to experience darkness. 

The only way to know love is to experience fear.

This is why we’re here.