Grieving daughter kissed her mom's grave and instantly got a 'sign' from above

Trigger Warning: The following story deals with themes of loss and grief. 

When Sonia Benavente (@soniabte on Instagram) visited her mom's grave, she kept looking at the gravestone, telling her how much she misses her presence. However, just as she kissed the memorial, conveying her love, Benavente could feel her mom respond almost immediately with a sign from above. 

The dull weather, once dark and gloomy, brightened instantly as the sun came peeping through the clouds, as if Benavente's mom had dropped by to say she missed her too. Benavente smiled as she witnessed the magical moment, only to break down in tears seconds later. "I really needed that little sign from my mom, especially because today is Easter," she wrote in the video caption, shared on April 20, 2025.

Benavente was quite close to her mother, and perhaps that's the reason she often visits her grave, hoping for a sign from her. Her social media page, too, is filled with such profound videos of her going to her deceased mom's memorial and sharing major life updates. Now, unlike Benavente, many would possibly avoid visiting their loved ones' graves, as they fear that it might cut open their unhealed wounds. But as they say, no two people grieve the same way. Dr. Wendy Lichtenthal, a psychologist at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, said to News in Health (NIH), "People often believe they should feel a certain way, but such ‘shoulds’ can lead to feeling badly about feeling badly. It’s hugely important to give yourself permission to grieve and allow yourself to feel whatever you are feeling. People can be quite hard on themselves and critical of what they are feeling. Be compassionate and kind to yourself."

Meanwhile, when Benavente shared the emotional moment on the internet, the heartwarming post received an overwhelming response, gaining 378k views online. For instance, @tuviana08 commented, "The same thing happens every time I visit my dad’s grave; it's a beautiful feeling." @glittersav118 shared, "When I am having a really hard time, I get a hummingbird. My kids and I say hi to Grandma."  @becky wrote, "Friend! I understand you; I also lost my mommy at a very young age. They take care of us from heaven!"

On the other hand, @conabarb said, "I miss my mom even more now that I'm older. It's a pain and a void that never goes away or is filled. I'm so happy that you've felt your mom's presence and love even though she walks in a different realm." Similarly, @pumpkinseedwaxco said, "Hugs to you! I completely understand how you feel. I get signs from my parents every day. That’s their way of letting us know they are here for us." Echoing the sentiments, someone who goes by @clorraine679 on the platform commented, "She's always around you; she knew you were there. Anytime you can ask for a sign, and you'll receive one. It was only her body that died, and her soul, like yours, is eternal. Most of all, she'll want you to be happy and to have a good life."

You can follow Sonia Benavente (@soniabte) on Instagram for more lifestyle content.

If you're struggling to cope with grief, and need help, please reach out to Crisis response at 1-800-203-CARE (2273)