One of the Most Important Things You Can Do on This Earth

When my 87-year-old mother was dying in my arms, after years of Parkinson’s disease stole her mobility and health, I found myself saying three words softly by her ear. “I’ve got you.” I repeated these three words over and over, as her breathing slowed, and her beautiful soul finally fled the contorted little body she left behind. I knew that hearing is often the last of the senses to go. I wanted her to know that she was not alone. End of life may be a solo journey, but who wants to board the celestial train without someone to hug you and wave goodbye? A loving sendoff is better than a lonely departure. Of course, there were other times when I comforted the dying. On my father’s last day, I held an ice chip to his parched lips and reminisced about family memories, pets long gone, and gratitude for all he’d given our family and me. But Dad, ever the stoic, waited until I left the room and then slipped away. My wife is a hospice nurse and tells me that this is not uncommon. Sometimes the dying, having held on to be with you one last time, prefer to slip away when you leave the room. It’s like they don’t want to burden you with grief. But the important thing is that someone was with them before they let go. They knew they were not alone, and that seems to make it easier to cross over the veil. <a href="https://medium.com/personal-growth/one-of-the-most-important-things-you-can-do-on-this-earth-58815b99ed4c">Website</a>