December 21st, 1917
Received by James Padgett
Washington D.C.
Come to the bridal chamber, death. Come to the young mother when she feels for the first time her newborn's breath. And so death came to me when I was but a young bride and lived in expectation of a new, loving being that would be part of my flesh - and died when my baby came. As life came to it, death came to me, and we missed each other at the very moment that I heard its first cry.
And when I came to life in the spirit world I was bitter and thought God to be so heartless and cruel to take me from my baby, and was so unhappy, and wanted to die over again.
I would like to tell you of my misery and gloom and hatred of my very God, whom I had believed in and thought that I loved, but I cannot now. But this I must say, that my unhappiness was for a short time only, for bright spirits came to me and comforted me, and assured me that I was not separated from my baby, but could go to my baby and watch over him and give him my mother's love, and so I did, and am now doing, for my baby who is now a man, and still I am with him, and I know that I have been a greater blessing to him as his spirit mother, than I would have been had I remained his mortal mother.
I write this to comfort mothers who have to leave their babies as they come into the earth life, and to assure them, that, though they disappear from the visions of their loved ones, yet they can always be with them - close and in deep rapport with them and love.
Death comes as an enemy, but when recognized, only a friend appears. Mothers, thank God for such a death and the great consolation it brings to the departing and to those left behind.
Goodbye,
Grace Stanhope.