Last Tuesday my father-in-law celebrated his 88th birthday. He died the next evening.
A life span of very hard work and selflessness gave way to a long list of physical problems as he aged. A form of leukemia, COPD, congestive heart failure, diabetes, arthritis and several other maladies contributed to taking the fun out of living. Hospice personnel had worked with him for about one month. He held off until school was out for my wife and her niece so they could spend about a week and a half with him. He knew the niece and her mother needed to leave within a few days. Wheat harvest is still a couple of weeks off. As a farmer, he knew that in that area wheat harvest takes priority over everything else. As a lifelong dairyman he held off until late evening, hours after the second milking of the day would have been complete. In her last conversation with him, my wife explained to him that it was OK if he wanted to go to Heaven by explaining how he could join various loved ones who were already there and who were waiting for him. He looked at her and said, "So, what are they waiting for?"
It's always hard for us left here on Earth when someone close to us leaves. I'm glad he was able to stick around for the time he did.
Even though some folks have a good, long and productive life and their passing is inevitable (none of us are getting out of here alive), it doesn't lessen the pain of their departure. The Lord be with you, and we'll say a prayer.
My Aunt (mom's sister) died @ 94 years old this weekend. She has been in bed for several weeks in and out of conscientiousness before passing on. My mom told me that at one point she woke up and asked her son "why haven't you buried me yet?" He told her that he couldn't since she was still alive.
My brother and I met in North Carolina and did work for our mom, and we had a picnic on Mothers day with her, her sister, and two of my aunt's kids (my cousins). I guess that was the last time she was up and conscious I guess.
humor on your deathbed
My father passed away in '93 after an extended hospital stay. I took the time off work to stay with him almost constantly for his last month. We got a lot of things squared away in that time.
In a serious moment he told me. "The last thing you teach your children is how to die."
We stared at each other for a moment. It was I who blinked when he said, "Now I'm only going to do this once. For once in your life could you please try and pay attention!"
It's easy to see where my sense of humor came from. :snarky:
Bless you guys....it IS hard to lose a loved one.
I lost my dad 12 years ago at age 68 to ALS (Lou Gehrig's disease). It took a year to go from a Scoutmaster, business owner, and residential contractor to being in a wheelchair. That disease caused the nerve connections in his body to degenerate and robbed him of the ability to use his muscles, and subsequently his life.
It is difficult to deal with the death of a loved one, whether it happens suddenly or over a short period time. Being able to say "goodbye" makes it a little easier on the heart.
Knowing where they are, and where I will be one day makes this bearable. Bless us all.:love:
