The old woman lies in her hospital bed room, emaciated and feverish. There are steel spikes in her throat, the consequence of a strep infection that makes it almost impossible for her to swallow solid food. Exhaustion soaks into her bones ... even sitting up leaves her tired. Days and nights blur together and time means nothing. Her only task is to sleep and eat, sleep and eat until she finally passes away.
Despite all this, she says that she feels a deep sense of contentment. She is surrounded by people she loves and always has a niece or nephew around to entertain her. Beside her bed is a large, double-paned window that looks out onto a street dotted with quaint stores and coffee shops. She remembers playing along this street as a child, when six hours could so easily be swallowed up with simple games.
But things are different now. As she moved from childhood through adolescence and finally into adulthood, her outlook on life steadily changed. She has become more of a realist. She doesn't see the world as boundless, but rather quite limited by the realities of flesh and blood. She has seen friends come and go, family members pass away. She has had profound personal experiences with aging, suffering, illness and now, finally, death.
And yet while many languish in pain and loneliness in the final chapter of their lives, she feels satisfied. Her life has been full of friendship and love. She followed her dreams, married the man she loved and raised a beautiful family. She devotedly took care of others for many years. Now, her children and grandchildren, nephews and nieces - and all the others whom she touched with her kindness - come to the hospital to be at her bedside. Now they take care of her, doting on her with small gifts and kind wishes.
Her faith in God sustains her. It's easy to look down upon another's religious or spiritual beliefs, to question their logic ... but for this woman, at this moment, her faith gives her great strength and optimism. She does not see herself just as a dying, physical being, but rather as a soul ready to escape its material confines and ascend to Heaven.
She will go somewhere where there is no suffering, somewhere where she will be rewarded for a lifetime of faith and service.
But things are different now. As she moved from childhood through adolescence and finally into adulthood, her outlook on life steadily changed. She has become more of a realist. She doesn't see the world as boundless, but rather quite limited by the realities of flesh and blood. She has seen friends come and go, family members pass away. She has had profound personal experiences with aging, suffering, illness and now, finally, death.
And yet while many languish in pain and loneliness in the final chapter of their lives, she feels satisfied. Her life has been full of friendship and love. She followed her dreams, married the man she loved and raised a beautiful family. She devotedly took care of others for many years. Now, her children and grandchildren, nephews and nieces - and all the others whom she touched with her kindness - come to the hospital to be at her bedside. Now they take care of her, doting on her with small gifts and kind wishes.
Her faith in God sustains her. It's easy to look down upon another's religious or spiritual beliefs, to question their logic ... but for this woman, at this moment, her faith gives her great strength and optimism. She does not see herself just as a dying, physical being, but rather as a soul ready to escape its material confines and ascend to Heaven.
She will go somewhere where there is no suffering, somewhere where she will be rewarded for a lifetime of faith and service.
This was beautiful. Thanks for sharing.
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