Last Words!

I've had the privilege in recent years of accompanying loved ones at the end of life and into death. I've supported many friends in their accompaniment of their loved ones also.

In my experience, people have things that they want loved ones to know before they move away from them into the next life. It seems to relate to expression of love and gratitude for kindnesses, friendship and the little things that make a difference along the journey of the more challenging days. Only the most essential matters on the doorstep of death with love and loved ones central.

This provides lessons for my own living - most of which I forget in the frenzy of daily life! Only a small few or one person might be there for the final stage of life's journey. In my personal knowing of what it is to be in that privileged space and seeing what it is not to be in that space for others, it's worthwhile in daily living to note where gratitude is deserved! If we treated the end of each day with a moment's reflection time to consider where and to whom gratitude is deserved and could be expressed, it leads to a space of having fewer regrets.

When it comes to the end of life, I've never seen anyone talking about work, the size of their house or any THINGS! That stage brings one back to how we arrived in this world with nothing except for those who loved us into what we would become and do in life. We yearn for material comfort to make our nesting place in this world a good one. We use our creative senses and abilities to build what offers best security for ourselves and our loved ones at the parenting and grandparenting stages of life. We both succeed and fail in our material endeavours and also in our relationships, as there is nothing perfect about us. However, at all stages we are good enough for wherever we are in life if we take mistakes as valuable place of learning and renewal.

If this day was our last one, what would we say to those who matter most? What would we want to spend the day doing? What might need resolve for greater personal peace? What would we let go of?

For what are we most grateful? Let's make this day a good one!

Cathy Burke,
Catechist in the Lucan Partnership of Parishes