June 2009

Kristine and Ernie Jackson, authors of Quinton’s Legacy and Quinton’s Messages, planned their annual 2009 family vacation meticulously – choosing not to take their traditional vacation to Mexico because of safety concerns. There is no coincidence that they changed their plans to avoid death, but still death found them and in doing so, something wholly unexpected happened.

In an instant, in the beat of a hummingbird’s wing and faster than the blink of an eye – everything changed. The thorough preparation and accident itself are only backdrops to what happened next. Our son, Quinton Stone Jackson transitioned, (note: this word is used to describe “death”, which is at its core, a transition from being in physical form to non-physical form known as Spriit). Next, our family, friends, and communities came to our aid over the following months, and Quinton immediately began visiting from the other side.

This day that changed our lives split us open physically, emotionally, and spiritually. From a place of being shattered and grieving, we began healing all the while Quinton visited us and others. Life, in the short-term became a rollercoaster, the ups, downs, twists and turns between heavy grief and epiphany with each sign and visit from our son. 

In being ripped open, the knowledge that we are more than our physical bodies helped to stitch us back together.

What happened next was a dichotomy. Immediately as so many know, the death of a loved one comes with responsibilities coming hand in hand with shock and disbelief. Five days after the accident, my consciousness was pierced with the knowledge that Quinton still is; quite literally, from the depths of despair I stared into a black abyss, thinking our son was alone somewhere in the darkness. Immediately, as explained in the pages of Quinton’s Messages, that dark thought was obliterated with the knowledge that Quinton is very much alive in a non-physical form! 

From there, we began to heal. Quinton’s celebration of life was wonderous as we were surrounded by our loved ones. Kristine was consumed by pain and pain medication. Like so many couples we grieved differently, initially separate, and apart until we understood the knowledge Quinton imbued us with had a sacred purpose, that being to share what he showed us with others. Do not get us wrong here, we still had heavy grieving to process, and we did so both separately and together, all the while this sacred knowledge stitched us back together, healing our bodies and making our marriage even stronger.

From here, the journey began in earnest and at its core, a sacred responsibility to help who we can and to be of service. This path has morphed initially from helping others on their grief journey by in part, helping them to recognize the signs they are receiving from their loved ones, to life coaching where Kristne and Ernie have their specific niches.

The other priority for me, for us, was stepping into forgiveness. We could not allow our anger, fear, and sadness to cloud our precious memories of our son. In the next few years Kristine and I went on a journey, meeting other parents in our “club no parent wants to pay the dues for,” sharing similar stories of grief and loss but also our new sense of clarity and enlightenment. We published two books, Quinton’s Messages in 2011 and Quinton’s Legacy in 2015 where we shared our newfound experiences with signs and messages Quinton sent us after he passed away. These signs that gave us such a sense of comfort were our connection with our son. These signs were the basis of our new perspective on life and understanding that death or passing away is just a transition from a physical to non-physical form. The point of this understanding or Knowledge is, there is no death; this is what our son, showed us.

Much of our story has been devoted to not only forgiveness, and clarity of priorities but also the discussion and recognition of signs from our loved ones and how present they are in our lives. 

As we shared Quinton’s signs with others, those we spoke with also shared the signs their loved ones on the other side had shared with them, and in this mutual sharing, we have come to know that these experiences of receiving signs from our loved ones is a normal part of the human experience. It’s a universal phenomenon, receiving signs happens when our grandparents, parents, siblings, children, aunts, uncles, cousins and even friends’ transition. 

Quinton is the reason we are still here, it’s the gift he blessed us with. He opened our eyes, changing the trajectory of our lives providing so many opportunities for growth/spiritual evolution and our hope is that you can recognize your own growth opportunities and evolution, our hope is that you find our site and resources helpful to you on your journey of (clarity, hope healing forgiveness etc.).

We are Quinton’s Legacy.. 

The "gift" Quinton gave us has nothing to do with material wealth, safety, food or shelter.  The gift is knowledge, an awareness where there was none before, The knowledge I refer to is divine and has been around since the beginning of time, but has been forgotten, misplaced in some way.  I certainly didn’t know it either, but it was my son who showed me in graphic and undeniable terms.  Our son, Quinton Stone Jackson, gave me this gift of knowledge and I in turn give it to you.

We are living in such an incredible time.  So much turmoil in this shrinking world, so much pain, angst and doubt.  What is interesting, when you look at our human history, the turmoil we face is currently a light turmoil when compared to the tragedies we have bestowed on one another throughout time.  What we face now is a conjured turmoil that serves others.  But we are told, rightly so, not to judge and not to compare.  Whether heavy turmoil or turmoil of a lighter version, the effects are all the same.  Too many lose hope and lose faith.  The chemicals we ingest and “news” we expose ourselves to only exacerbates the despair.

Sitting here, near a beach, listening to the waves on what is Quinton’s ninth angelversary I am reflective.  In words the material world uses, I am supposed to say Quinton died nine years ago, but I don’t – I refuse – because of the gift of knowledge.  Instead, I say, our son transitionednine years ago and then began to visit in the most wondrous ways.  In contemplating his visits, sharing with others only to have them share with me how their loved ones have visited them, and then discover through research that this is perfectly normal, the gift was received and internalized.  It is so incredible – There is no death; we are eternal!  This truth is especially poignant when your son or daughter shows you this; this truth is especially touching no matter who of your loved ones show you they are eternal by visiting you in your dreams or sending you signs. 

But what does this indicate in these times of turmoil?  What does this imply as our suicide rates are increasing in the United States and as cultural icons Kate Spade and Anthony Bourdain have too, decided to go home early?  Being eternal beings not only applies to them, but to us as well.  They are alive and well on the other side, surrounded by family and friends, welcoming them home and wrapping them in loving arms.  At some point they may think, “What was I thinking? I was supposed to work through my adversity, my angst – If only I knew; if only I had remembered.”  But it is okay – no judgement, right…. And besides, they probably will come back and try it again, in another version of themselves.  They are okay, but we are still here and each of us have work to do.

And what work is that?  First, know that you are eternal.  Know that each of us, each of you has a purpose that is divine and sacred to you.  Those purposes vary in so many ways and I can’t even begin to list them all, but here are just a few: 1. Learn to love ourselves unconditionally; 2. Learn to love others unconditionally; 3. Learn not to judge others or ourselves; 4. Learn to be kind; 5. Overcome our addictions to food, sex, drugs and any form of stimulation we utilize to not face the lessons we chose to learn in this lifetime; 6. Learn to rise above despair and destructive rage; 7. Learn to realize our own magnificence – each and every one.  And the beat goes on, and the list goes on.  Hmmm – maybe you and I should write a book about and delve into all the lessons each of us signed up for, before we were born.  Yes, signed up for, before we were born….  Because we are eternal – this is not only possible, but how it works.  I have read this in far too many places and talked to far too many people who speak this knowledge, not to know it is truth.

This gift of knowledge is divine and must be shared with all.  Don’t end the journey prematurely.  All too often it is through the adversity, pain and angst that we grow, learn, evolve and move a step forward toward our higher selves.  What a splendid time to work through that darkness.  Part of the process I am convinced, is not to try and do it alone.  We were not made to go through it alone and it is only our society today isolates us so, within this web of social media “connectedness”.  Here we stand within this dichotomy with this knowledge and opportunity.  Reach out…

It is said “It is darkest before the dawn”.  I think I understand what this means, and it has nothing to do with the sun coming up.

With Love,

Ernie and Kristine