Death

Image by Julianne.hide via Flickr

A short line on death.  People mourn the loss of a loved one as they finish life and cross the time barrier from the living to the timeless realm of death.

They often don't think of what it would mean to the loved one that has passed away, their thoughts turn towards what it means to do with them.  The loss they feel, how much they will miss the loved one and ultimately what they have lost.  When you look at it from the perpective of the loved one who has lived their life and reached an old age, they are being released from pain, lonlieness and the feeling of being out of place and a burden on those whom they love.  I am not speaking of the people who have had their lives cut short by a tradgedy I am talking of those who have lived a full life and time has and continues to take its toll on their body.



My grandmother recently died, and although most of the family was surprised she had made it as long as she had (she lived six years past my grandfather's death) the reacted as if she had died unexpectedly and/ or she was stuck down midlife.  My grandmother lived to be 90 years old and her last comment was she did not know why anyone would want to live to be thiat old.  She was an active lady and enjoyed reading, writing and children.  She had lost the ability to read or write due to failing eye sight, and becuase of the passage of time could not keep up with even the most considerate of children and knew children well enough to know it would be unfair to ask them to stop to spend time with her although several of her grandchildren, great grandchildren and great great grand children had quite often stopped to visit with her.  It was not as long as she would like but she also understands that a child and teens life is full of constant movement.  She recently had been slowed down to a point of needing constant supervision to insure she wasn't falling and hurting herself and this was a blow she could not tolerate. 
She was the one who was meant to take care of her children and there families in her mind and not the other way around yet time had degenerated her to this point.  This broke her will to live and so she passed on.  She had had a full life of happiness and loving.  It had its ups and downs but her life had a purpose when that purpose was done and time had robbed her of the ability to perform her purpose she had no reason to live and expressed it several times in comments similar to the forementioned  comment.
Yet when she passed many off her children acted as if it were a surprise.  If they would step out of their own world or step outside of their selfishness they would realize that it was a release from misery for her.  There were some who expresed this but still they thought they had reason to grieve.  Personally I believe there is reason to celebrate for her life was a hapy life and she touched many live in a positive manner that enriched the lives of those sshe reached.

The memory of the part I know of her life is the thoughts that fill my heart and in doing so will keep her close to me as I walk the journey of life and will enrich my soul and strengthen it for its journey when my time on earth is done.

It is not the manner of our death that makes a difference.It is how we lived that will leave a mark on the world that changes it to a better place for all.

Death is only the beginning of lfe and will not only enrich the world.