Friday, April 27, 2007

People die

I remember when my maternal Grandma died.  And my paternal grandpa.  Then for a long time, nobody died in my family. 

Cliff's Uncle George, who thought I could do no wrong, passed away when my kids were young.  It's hard to find people who put you on a pedestal like that, and I hated to see him go.

After that, it was a long time before anyone I really truly cared about died.  So I was fine.

Then people started "going home" faster than I could ever have imagined.

Momma.  Daddy.  Cliff's mom and dad.  My brother.  Cliff's brother, Warren.  My sister's husband.  Every beloved uncle and aunt I ever had have gone on, except for two; and they aren't doing so well.  My favorite pickin' and grinnin' buddy from the past, Leona (and she was younger than me).

So I really didn't need to see more people dying at this point in my life.

But alas, I made Internet friends, and they started dying too.

Goodoldys.  Revwife1.  Westbilt.  Lona's husband.  White Dove's husband.  Sue's  husband.

A year ago my husband had a close brush with death.

I started my AOL journal, made journal friends, and watched more people die.  Mostly from one form of cancer or another.

And some are fighting the "Big C" even now.  For the second time, dang it.

Then, for some reason, I wandered innocently through Blogger journals some time back and discovered this man  dying from pancreatic cancer in Canada.  And I cared.  My father-in-law died from pancreatic cancer, you know.

At some point in life you realize you are going to die; we're all going to die.  It makes you aware, somehow, of how brief our stay on earth is.  Of our mortality.

I really don't think our own deaths are as hard to consider as the deaths of those around us.  The ones we love.

I don't know about you, but I look to that Supreme Being, the Almighty God, to forgive our sins and lead us gently home.  And to do the same for those we love.

It's the best I can hope for.

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9 comments:

Anonymous said...

THANK YOU DONNA.
love ya,
carlene

Anonymous said...

What's gotten you into such a dark mood so early into the weekend??  Have a glass of wine and put on some Green Day.  You NEED it, girlfriend!!

Russ

Anonymous said...

I'm a christian, too
find comfort with our Father

Anonymous said...

I guess we all have faced the same thing.  As we age, more and more of our friends and family will be going home, as you say.  A belief in eternal life certainly makes it a little easier to take, but we are left with empty spots in our heart.  My mom died of pancreatic cancer too.  It seems to be very common.  None of us knows exactly how long we have and so we try to make the most of each day as it comes  to us.  Today is a great day and I'll be celebrating it.  It is a gift from God.  'On Ya' - ma

Anonymous said...

Thanks Donna. We all go through the death of loved ones. A good reminder to live one day at a time.

Anonymous said...

You're right Donna, eventually we all doe, but just now, I'm just a little tired from all the goodbyes this year.

Anonymous said...

A good reminder to live everyday like its the last...and live it to the fullest.

Anonymous said...

I know what you mean. Until my husband died, the only funeral had been years before when my father died. Now there is so many. 3 of my close friends have even lost children in the past 2 years.  The most recent one was just last week. A wonderful young man of only 18, his mother's only child. Heartbreaking, but at least they have a faith that he is with his Lord now.

Anonymous said...

I can sure relate to this entry, Donna.  So many around me are dying.. both friends and family alike, and it DOES make you face the fact of your own mortality.  That every day should be lived to the fullest, because tomorrow is promised to no one!  
I am reading several journals of woman who are fighting the Big C, and like you, I read Kim's journal also.. and God Bless her, but she is a fighter, isn't she?  I love that woman!  She continues to inspire me, everday single day.

Now.. I think I am off to read the journal about the gentleman dying from Pancreatic Cancer.

Hugs
Jackie