"Grandmother, I saw a beautiful movie last night!"

"You did? But, honey, we didn't go to the movies."

"While I was sleeping, Grandmother.
It had lots of color and pretty music
and my sister was there! I saw her, I really did!"

"Sweetheart, can you tell me about this movie?"

"Yes, I loved it.
It's my favorite so far.
I know everyone tells me I won't see my sister again,
but Grandmother I did, I did see her in the movie!"

"I believe you, honey.
I know your sister is in Heaven now, but she is also in your heart.
I'm sure she will come and visit you lots of times in your dreams.
Dreams are like movies in your mind.
They come at night when you are fast asleep and they are very good to have.

Do you know why?"

"No, why?"

"Well, because this is a way of keeping memories alive."

"What are memories, Grandmother?"

"Memories are thoughts of things that have already happened.
Do you remember when your sister was born?"

"Oh, yes I do. It was such a happy day for everyone, especially for my Mom."

"Well, this is a memory.
You remember that day and always will.
Now tell me about this dream you had, this movie in your mind, ok?"
 

"Grandmother, my sister and I were playing just like
we used to do before she died.
Then all of a sudden she stopped and looked at me.
She just kept looking but not talking."

"Did she look sad, honey?"

"No, she had a smile on her face,
but it was not one of those big happy smiles, it was different.
She looked really different, Grandmother."

"Sweetheart, I think that was probably a peaceful smile,
but go on and tell me more."

"Well, then she reached over to me and gave me
a great big hug. It made me feel warm all over."

"Oh, honey, that's wonderful!
You were feeling the love from your sister.
She wants you to know how very much she loved you."

"Then she said she misses me, but she is very happy.
She gets to see everything beautiful
and wants me to share her beautiful things."

"Did she tell you what these things are?"

"Yes, Grandmother, she pointed to a baby bird
and said this was a sign of Spring,
a time for new beginnings. And then she said
everytime I see a new baby bird I should think of her
in Heaven because this is a new beginning for her."

"Oh, that's so nice sweetheart. Tell me more."

"The rainbows, they were so pretty!"

"The rainbows?
You saw rainbows in this dream?"

"Yes, my sister showed me lots of rainbows!
She said sometimes it will rain a lot and make me sad,
but after the rain I'm supposed to look for a rainbow.
I don't understand, Grandmother.
Why should I look for a rainbow?"

"Well, honey, I think what she means
is you will have lots of sad days in your life,
especially when you think of her, but she wants 
you to look for things that will make you happy
because she doesn't want you being sad. A rainbow,
like happiness, is something you have to look for.
This is a beautiful thing she has told you."

"Then we watched it snow! We sat next to each 
other and watched the beautiful snow. She didn't say 
anything, she just sat there with her arm around me
and we watched for a long time."

"Sweetheart, she wants you to know
she will always be with you.
No matter how bad things seem sometime,
she will be with you in your heart.
You will always feel her warmth and happiness."

"But, Grandmother, the snow was beautiful
even though it was very cold."

"That's right. You see you are already understanding
what she is trying to tell you.
There is always something good in everything,
you just have to look and find it.
And best of all, she will be right there with you,
maybe not in body,
but in the warmth and love you feel in your heart."

"Oh, Grandmother, this was the best!
She showed me the pretty leaves!
They were red and orange and yellow,
the brightest colors I have ever seen!
We ran and jumped in them
and laughed until we couldn't laugh anymore.
Grandmother, I miss her so much."

"Oh, honey, don't cry.
I know you miss her and so do I.
Come here I need a hug
and I think your sister would like me to tell you something.
She has just given you something very special.
In your dream she has tried to tell you
how much she loves you.
Although it hurts to remember,
she wants you to know she is in a beautiful place
where there is no more sadness and no more tears."

"But, Grandmother, the pretty leaves all went away."

"Yes they did.
Sometimes things in life leave us and it hurts.
When someone we love dies, sometimes we are mad,
sometimes we are confused, but most of all we are very sad
and it's ok to have these feelings."

"It's ok to be sad?"

"Sure it is.
As long as you remember to look for the rainbow.
Your sister wants you to look for the rainbows in your life
because they stand for the happy times.

"What am I going to see when I look for rainbows, Grandmother?"

"In the Spring you will see the baby bird.
In the Summer you will see rainbows.
In the Fall you will see pretty leaves
and in the Winter you will see snow."

"Just like in my dream!"

"Yes, sweetheart, just like in your dream.
Always remember,
for every season there is a rainbow."