one prayer...one life....

 

In my last post, I posed the situation of being able to be responsible for the timing of your own death. Today I want to focus on why I believe that we should let life carry us as long as possible.
So as to not get yourself all in a knot, I do believe in having a Living Will...which is a directive for your family that outlines how you wish to have your care directed in the last weeks or months of your life. This is DIFFERENT from just taking  a pill and passing on to the netherworld. There is also Hospice Care, in which there are trained caregivers who help you to make the most of the time that you have left. You are NOT left to suffer and in fact, many who have hospice care agree that having people with you who can anticipate your needs is preferable to just trying to wing it alone.

No, what I am talking about is instead of taking a pill, we have the belief that by using every means possible to direct our care and treatment...or deciding to forgo treatment and allowing Nature to continue, that we will have the opportunity to enjoy life to its fullest. I know of a gentleman who was told he had "months" to live. Had he fallen into that belief and just "taken a pill," he'd have missed out on making memories with his family and missed out on the birth of a new great granddaughter. In another case, someone who was told that he also had "weeks to months" would have missed out on a planned vacation to Cancun, the last one he made with his wife.

Despite all of the technology, all of the pharmaceuticals, all of the techniques that doctors have made strides in, the one thing they still cannot do and will not be able to do--is to be God. Those who have been told they have limited time have proven different. Look at the actress Valerie Harper. Still going strong almost two years after being told she had terminal brain cancer. Aretha Franklin, years after being diagnosed with pancreas cancer...still belting out those tunes we all know.

Take a pill?
Really?

Friends.....don't fall into the ease of just popping a pill for every little malady! Jesus suffered. If He could show us how it is done, then why do we feel that we need to do this all by ourselves? we have the perfect example! It is not easy....but why should we disallow someone else the chance to make amends, to make a memory, to resolve a situation, to offer a prayer...or even to reconnect with God....and that goes for the one who is living the last few days/hours. The time we have is ours to make a difference. Why not be an inspiration?

To be honest, we are all dying. There is no avoidance of this. We have no idea of when, the place, the time or the means. Why push it? It's like forcing a flower to bloom or a bird to fly. Not everything in life is easy. Not everything that involves death is easy either. However...you are not alone!