Spiritual Experience with Jeanette van Geldern’s memory (holocaust victim)

I had a spiritual experience as that dealt with a holocaust victim. I didn’t meet them, as they died. I was scrolling through Auschwitz Memorial twitter and Jeanette van Geldern came up.

The tweet read “27 November 1925 | A Dutch Jewish woman, Jeanette van Geldern, was born in Rheden.

In September 1943 she was deported to #Auschwitz. She did not survive.”

Here is information about her life. The Velp police persecuted her for changing her residence without permission. This meant she went into hiding.

I had a dream about her that night that God said, “Look how beautiful she is.” The feeling of love and peace that came from her telling me that she was alright now stayed with me. I didn’t know why she in particular captivated me, just that I felt her.

Seeing the beauty in her soul opened mine to a different level of happiness. Happiness as in an appreciation of life, that I got a chance to be here. I know comparing traumas is a trap and doesn’t work, but we must cherish life. It was a happiness I never experienced before. It was a reminder that wasn’t dismissive or in denial of my suffering in life. It was just love for life. I couldn’t explain it if I tried. But I knew I was meant to hold onto her and remember this feeling. Remember her beauty.

Now I do it for her. Jeanette may have not survived but she was in my life. In some powerful spiritual way she healed me. Whatever that means I’ll learn when I pass. Until then she has fascinated me. I feel her guidance letting me know she wanted to live and to love. She matters despite the hate she endured. She reached me randomly; I didn’t expect it. And I don’t expect anything from this life. I just need her by my side. Whatever it means I cannot decipher and no longer do when these things happen to me.

~Sarah Jeanne Browne