I’ve had many people comment on how the testimony of my faith after Makayla’s passing has been inspiring to their own faith journey. I am always honored and humbled by what others see within me as a result of how I express our story. I will be the first to say, yes, my faith and hope in the Lord Jesus Christ has increased, but that has come out of a lot of pain and suffereing! When people see me, they are seeing the hand of God at work! The brokenness I’ve expressed the past year through my writing has been the Holy Spirit ministering His love and promises to me in the quietness of my heart. He speaks to me; He guides me; He comforts me. There hasn’t been a millisecond gone by without the knowing that His hands is holding me. I feel a need to share it with others to provide a raw perspective of the grieving process, plus writing is a therapy for me. The Bible says this,

“The LORD is near to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit… He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds…” Psalm 34:18 & 147:3

Although these promises in scripture, along with many others, have played out to be true in our own journey, there is another huge factor that contributes to our hope!

Our daughter Bella drew the above picture the day after Makayla went to be with Jesus! The story behind this handmade drawing has been a rock where Mike and I stand in our belief in that we WILL see Makayla again. She is has been completely healed. She has been made whole. She walks with Jesus. She is alive with Him.

I have shared this story with multiple people since Makayla’s passing, but it’s worth telling again. Since the first time I wrote of this true story a year ago, the Lord has brought several scriptures to my attention confirming exactly what Bella saw in her dream. Scriptures with details matching what Bella described to us the day after Makayla passed away. These scriptures support, without a doubt, the clarity given by Bella’s words, even down to her sweet handmade drawing. It’s truly the hand of God wanting to let our family know that Makayla is safe in the arms of the Father.

Bella’s Dream:

Bella was extremely upset the night Makayla passed away, and rightfully so. Her best friend, her sister, her playmate, her “other half” wasn’t here anymore. It broke her heart to say the least. The questions she immediately lamented to the Lord were ones we all were thinking: “Why did you take my sister away from me God, I didn’t even get to say “goodbye! Why couldn’t you heal her here? What am I suppose to do now without my sister? You said you would heal her!” These are just some of the questions, among other heart-breaking emotions and questions, Bella had that night. As her parents, the best heartbroken answer we could muster up to give her was, “Makayla is with Jesus now.” 

We invited Bella and our son Christian to sleep in our room that night so they wouldn’t be alone on such a tragic evening. We already had a twin bed set up in our room, which is where Makayla would sleep, and a bed mattress on the floor. We all laid down , said a prayer for the Lord to comfort us, and we went to sleep.

But, Bella had a dream that night! 

The next day I remember we were sitting outside on our front porch, feeling the utmost heartbreak and loneliness. Bella in her sweet little munchkin voice simply said that she had a dream about Makayla last night! What she told us is what has kept Mike and I from shattering into pieces the past year, losing all hope, or falling into disbelief in the Almighty God.

This is how Bella’s dream began: she awoke in the middle of the night and started walking towards the kitchen. We have a first floor master bedroom, so the kitchen is about 15-20 feet from our bedroom door. Something prompted Bella to look towards the front door of our home as she approached the kitchen.

This is was she saw..

Makayla! She was walking toward her, wearing a long white dress, and a crown of white flowers on top of her head. It was not a crown as one would see a Queen wear, Bella made sure we understood that, but one that looked like a wreath, sitting atop of her head. The flowers were interwoven with gold leaves strung between each bud; she said it was really pretty. Makayla wore gold sandals, her hair was long again, she was smiling, and looked happy. She was holding a mans hand! As Makayla walked toward Bella, she reached out her arms and wrapped them around Bella and gave her a big hug! That was the end of the dream.

Let me point out a couple scriptures at this point.

• Revelation 19:8, “It was given to her to clothe herself in fine linen, bright and clean; for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints.” 

• Revelation 6:11, “And there was given to each of them a white robe;

This is a depiction of Jesus’ Bride, also the white robe Bella described Makayla as wearing!

• 2 Timothy 4: 7-8, “I have fought the good fight, and I have finished the race, I have kept the faith; in the future there is reserved for me a Crown of Righteousness which the Lord, the Righteous Judge, will give me on that day and not only to me but to all those who have loved His appearing.” 

The New Testament mentions 5 different types of crowns that will be given to Christians as rewards for the various ways they ran their race of faith. However, the word “crown” is not the kind a King would wear, but rather a crown given to an athlete. Picture the olden day Olympic Games when the winner would wear a garland of olive branches and leaves, this depicts more of the type of crown worn in Heaven. The crown described to the ‘T’ from Bella that she saw Makayla wearing!

We then asked Bella who was this man's hand Makayla was holding? She said,

“I don’t know. His body was very bright, like a white light. His face was so bright, like the sun, but with a blueish color, I couldn’t really see His eyes or mouth. He wore a belt around His waist that looked like gold. He made me feel happy.”

It was Jesus!!

How indescribably wonderful! Here are a few scriptures to further support Bella’s vision.

• It says Daniel 10: 5-6, “I lifted my eyes and looked, and behold, there was a certain man dressed in linen, whose waist was girded with a belt of our gold of Uphaz. His body also was like beryl, his face had the appearance of lighting, his eyes were like flaming torches, his arms and feet like the gleam of polished bronze, and the sound of his words like the sound of a tumult.” 

Beryl is a transparent pale green, blue, or yellow gemstone. Bella mentioned Jesus’ face was bright with a blueish tint, yet looked like it was on fire and His whole body was glowing as if He was wearing a white robe that lite up.

•  Matthew 17:2, “And He was transfigured before them; and His face shone like the sun and His garments became as white as light.” 

When Jesus transfigured himself before Peter, James and John, He immediately became this depiction of light and sun!

• Hebrews 4:16, “Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”

First off, Bella had NO clue Jesus presents to each of us a “crown” of faith when we enter into heaven, yet that is exactly what she described Makayla wearing! She was never told we as the saints will be given a white robe once we get to Heaven, and yet that is what she saw in detail the attire of her sister. And she also was fully NOT aware how Jesus presents himself in a transfiguration. We’ve never talked about biblical facts like this with our kids, rather only focused on what their minds could comprehend from the Gospels and Old Testament stories!!!

Once we understood who this Man was, we bursted out with JOY at the thought and vision of what Bella had just described! We wanted her to tell it to us again and again. Makayla was WITH Jesus and Bella was a witness to it! How awesome is our God! The creator of ALL things, the Prince of Peace, that made a way for Bella to see Makayla in her new Glory, AND holding the hand of Jesus!

There is NO doubt in my mind that Makayla went straight to the Father (approaching the throne of grace with confidence) and asked for this visitation through Bella’s dream to help comfort her sister that night. It was Makayla’s way of saying, “It’s okay Bella, I’m okay, look I’m completely healed now and everything is okay, I’m with Jesus!” Makayla had a deep love for Bella and often went out of her way to make her sister happy .. Makayla would give Bella her last spoonful of ice cream if she felt lead to, it was who she was and remains to be even in Heaven!

My hope and prayer is that this story brings peace, clarity, and confirmation that Jesus is real, alive and active! He gave Himself for each one of us. He calls us each by name. And He longs to dwell in our hearts and be our healer!

I’d love to hear your thoughts on ‘Bella’s Dream’! Please feel free to leave your comments below.