What an extraordinary time! It was under two weeks before Amma’s tour was to begin. Amidst the anticipation and all the ups and downs that inevitably occur before Amma’s arrival, we received a call that my father-in-law was ill. He had been in a nursing home for the past 4 years with dementia and increasing frailness of the body. Until now, his condition was relatively stable. Upon receiving the news, I was concerned about what was going to happen. Would we be able to go on tour, what was going to happen to my father-in-law , and so on. I prayed to Amma and poured out everything that was in my heart, praying to help me surrender to her will.

Soon, we received news that my father-in-law’s condition had deteriorated and he was nearing his end. We were informed that he could go in hours or days. So we cancelled satsang that was to be held in our home that evening and rushed to his bedside (a three hour drive from where we live.)

He was lying unconscious, apparently unresponsive to sound or touch. His breathing was rapid, shallow and it was clear that it would not be long before his soul would leave the body.

My husband and I spent the day with him, performing archana, meditating, praying. Many thoughts and emotions kept arising the whole time Amma’s grace was evident. The nursing staff were loving and caring, and increasingly so as the day wore on. We were able to simply sit and watch. We watched everything around us in that room – our own thoughts, our own reactions within. We had no choice but to stay present and accept Amma’s will. Her loving and calming presence was strong.

The next day – Easter Monday – he passed away. The remainder of the week was hectic, attending to funeral arrangements, which included looking after the needs of relatives who were arriving from interstate. All the way, Amma guided us, providing whatever we needed. The funeral was sacred by Her grace.

Amma gave us so much strength (emotional and physical) to attend to everything, and in the end, we were able to meet her at the airport upon her arrival in Melbourne for the first programmes in Australia. She even made sure that we could finally join the tour as planned.

The day after the funeral, we were exhausted and numb. That evening, we decided to help in the kitchen. In the process of dealing with boiling water, I burned my hand quite badly. I attended to it quickly, very annoyed with myself for my lack of attention. I went to the puja room, placed my hand on Amma’s photo, asking her to kiss it and make it better and to forgive my inattentiveness.

I awoke the next morning, absolutely stunned that there was no sign of the burn – no pain, no blisters. Surely, the only explanation for that could be Amma’s ever present grace.

Beloved Amma, I bow down in gratitude for showering your blessings in so many ways. May thy will be done!

Veena, Australia