A Time for Comfort

Each and every one of us will lose a loved one. Sometimes they are taken away from us before we have had the chance to say goodbye. We didn't know they were going to be that sick, we didn't know they were going to be in an accident, we didn't know that our last words to them were going to be so impersonal. Losing a loved one in this way is often very painful for the survivors, who had so much more to say, so much more they wanted to express. For them, words unsaid, expressions of love and appreciation kept inside, good deeds left undone and time planned together for a future date will be spent without their beloved.

In Jonny's case, and in millions of others throughout this world, there are times when medical science gives us warning that somebody we love has a terminal medical condition. As emotionally gut wrenching, life altering and devastating as it is to hear, we need to make the most of this time and to say those important words. We need to let our loved ones know they made a difference in this world and to us, and to help them live their remaining days to the best of their abilities.

During this time there are so many issues to address, so many thoughts to process, so many emotions to deal with, so many inner wounds to be healed. But I can tell you from personal experience, take your cues from the person who has the terminal illness. They will let you know when they are ready to talk about dying; first, however, they will let you know about living. My family was fortunate enough to have advanced warning of my father's cancer. As hard as it was to know what was happening, we were all blessed because we could say what we needed to say, do what we needed to do, and go for those rides in the country that my father loved so much. I can tell you in those final months I gained some wisdom, which my father had shared with me time and time again throughout his life, but which I only finally understood in his final days.

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