I did hospice nursing many years. Saw many patients experience things beyond words to describe that were very comforting. My own mom who had been unconscious raised her head slightly and looked with an expression of wonder and joy just as she died. I knew she met Christ.
Hospice nursing is such an important and challenging ministry! Thanks for sharing this story about your mother, Jennifer. It really is hard to find words for these kinds of experiences.
Embracing the holy mystery as we approach the veil. As you know, walking with family, parishioners, and patients is a sacred experience. I was on call during CPE and got a call from our civilian priest who was on call. He was with a family in his parish who was dying and he asked if I would let the family know and be with them. I responded to the patient’s room, introduced myself as a Protestant Chaplain, and asked if I could pray with them and with the patient. They said yes and we all held hands as I prayed. As the patient passed, the Priest came in and began the liturgy that was so familiar to the family. God was at work in that sacred moment and it is one I will never forget.
My friend Jim had a devotion to Mary and prayed the rosary daily. In the last days of his life, he changed the words to "...now and at the hour of my death." The last time we prayed the rosary together, I had a vision of Mary (with whom I do not have a particularly close relationship) and she said, "I am coming to guide Jim to God." I waited until we had finished praying to tell him of this vision, and he said, "That is exactly how I imagined it would be." Science is useful and good in many ways, but God is God.
From my journal yesterday…
Morning prayer...
this morning I praise
the steadiness of rain
soaking the land
greening flowering
the pleasant chill of
Appalachian May flows
through my window
I wait for dawn to reveal
the day this one day
even as I sit here on
this little mountain
an old woman waiting
for the light...
my soul rests in the Beloved
my quiet patient companion
I am never alone.
Lynn this is so beautiful. Thank you for sharing it
I did hospice nursing many years. Saw many patients experience things beyond words to describe that were very comforting. My own mom who had been unconscious raised her head slightly and looked with an expression of wonder and joy just as she died. I knew she met Christ.
Hospice nursing is such an important and challenging ministry! Thanks for sharing this story about your mother, Jennifer. It really is hard to find words for these kinds of experiences.
I really liked this post I found it soothing to my soul for some reason and want to say thank you
Thanks Aussie Jo. It’s really nice to hear that
Embracing the holy mystery as we approach the veil. As you know, walking with family, parishioners, and patients is a sacred experience. I was on call during CPE and got a call from our civilian priest who was on call. He was with a family in his parish who was dying and he asked if I would let the family know and be with them. I responded to the patient’s room, introduced myself as a Protestant Chaplain, and asked if I could pray with them and with the patient. They said yes and we all held hands as I prayed. As the patient passed, the Priest came in and began the liturgy that was so familiar to the family. God was at work in that sacred moment and it is one I will never forget.
Michael that is such a powerful story. No wonder you remember it so well. I'm grateful that you shared it.
My friend Jim had a devotion to Mary and prayed the rosary daily. In the last days of his life, he changed the words to "...now and at the hour of my death." The last time we prayed the rosary together, I had a vision of Mary (with whom I do not have a particularly close relationship) and she said, "I am coming to guide Jim to God." I waited until we had finished praying to tell him of this vision, and he said, "That is exactly how I imagined it would be." Science is useful and good in many ways, but God is God.
Madeline that is such a moving story. Thank you for sharing it
Science is ok as far as it goes, then Jesus, Mary, and the angels take over. Amen.
Amen, Smith. Amen