Two senior members of our congregation have died. One in her mid 90s the other 104! The elder of the two has been spry and healthy up until the last few weeks when an infection slowed her down and then took its toll by sapping her energy and strength. The other has languished in a senior’s residence for a few years now, her memory stolen by the ravages of dementia.
The similarity between these two deaths is the care and compassion that has surrounded each woman by her family. In each case a beloved daughter sat with her mother as she took her last breath – such a holy moment. In each case the mother was assured of her family’s love and devotion right to the end. In each case tears were shed and they were tears of gratitude as well as tears of grief, gratitude for a life of love well lived. Who could ask for more than that?
In the book of Ecclesiastes are these beautiful words…
For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven:
a time to be born and a time to die …
a time to weep and a time to laugh;
a time to mourn and a time to dance …
God has made everything beautiful in its time.
While death is always sobering and causes us to stop and take stock, there is something right about the going of these ones who have put so much goodness and kindness into life. Their peaceful passing has been made beautiful by God and we remain a grateful people for having had them bless our lives.
