A:  Thanks so much for writing. First of all, I would like to offer my sympathies to you on the loss of your parents. Whether it was years ago, or if it just happened recently, the death of one’s parents can leave a big hole in a life. I have lost both of my parents also, and I know what a special sorrow this can be. I can hear the concern in your question that they remember you day-to-day, even though they are now gone from your earthly life.

The Urantia Book offers us a great wealth of information and comfort regarding the process of death and the experience of mortal resurrection. More importantly for you right now, it also offers us assurances that on our eternal journey through the Father’s realms, we will always

“…know and be known—remember and be remembered by, our onetime associates in the short but intriguing life on Urantia.”

This quote is from the section titled “Survival of the Human Self.” It is part of Paper 112 entitled Personality Survival I encourage you to read through this paper.

As to whether your parents remember you now, while you still are on earth…they surely do, just as you remember them. Not only that, but they remember only the best of times that they shared with you. All experiences that you shared that were less than wonderful will have been forgotten, but the love that they feel for you is still as real now as it was when they were with you here on earth. The loving relationships that we establish on earth are eternal relationships, and can never die, for they have eternal value. Quoting from the same section as above,

“…mortal memory of personality relationships has cosmic value and will persist.”

And when you yourself pass over into the Father Mansions, you will be given an opportunity to reunite with your loved ones. I know it will be a joyous time for all of you!

The fact that you still hold your parents in your heart means that they have not really gone from you—their physical presence is gone, but that love is so real that it will remain with you for the rest of your days, and beyond. The teaching that they gave and the way they raised you have made you the person you are today, and you carry them in your heart and mind because of it. And I am sure that you had an equally profound effect upon them.

Do your parents remember you today as you remember them? They do. Just as in our earthly life, those with whom we have love ties are always connected to us. Time and space are no barriers to this connection. Even if we don’t think of each other every minute, we know our loved ones care for us as we care for them. And when we need them, all we need to do is think of them, remember them and their love, and their “love presence” is upon us in an instant. That is the reality of love, and God is the source of the comfort that it gives, since he is the Author of Love itself.

You are so correct to describe this life as a “test.” This earthly life is a testing time, and part of that test for us is to grow a living faith in the Father’s goodness, and the promise of Jesus, who said, “If you are the faith sons of my Father, you shall never die; you shall not perish.”

When you are having hard times in your life, I hope you will remember your parents, and trust that they are remembering you as well. Trust in God, hold Jesus’s hand, and be of good cheer. In God’s universe, love is just about the most important thing there is…

Thank you so much for writing, and I hope that this reply will be of help to you. Again, please accept my condolences on your loss.”