Wings of Prayers

I’m in one of those cycles – emails this week brought news from two friends who are dealing with seriously ill parents and my prayer group is praying for two very serious ill women. Having buried both of my parents and my father-in-law, I generally put myself on the side of having more, rather than less experience with death.

And I am reminded of the death of my father at 59 years old.  Sunday will be the 28^th anniversary of his death.  When I see commercials for the Masters Golf Tournament, I know the anniversary of his death is near.     

The day before he left us, was the Sunday of the Masters tournament.  All four of his children were home and Jack Nicholas won. Death is such a mystery. I think that my dad was ready to go after spending quality time with each of his adult children and enjoying his favorite sporting event of the year.  He left us early on that Monday morning nearly 28 years ago and I still miss him.

And so what can I do to comfort my friends? Having a seriously ill parent is painful.  The one who taught you to ride a bike has trouble walking.  The one, who always challenged you to always do your best, needs help eating. The eyes that looked at you with pride and sometimes disappointment now are filled with pain.  And you can’t make them better and you don’t want them to go.

I can share with my friends some of my insights to death, having been present as two of my family members left us in the past three years.  I am certain that you don’t die alone - that your spirit is accompanied by spiritual beings on the journey to the next life. If you are ill and your health is failing, I believe that you have some influence over the timing of your death, depending on whether you are ready to go or not.  And those who have gone before us, who believe in God, are in a much better place than we are on earth.

When I wonder what heaven will be like, my first thought is that it will be a place without fear and greed.  It is a place that has more beauty than I can conger in my imagination. And I have this image that as a person enters into heaven; there is a welcoming party of loved ones whose celebration of the new life is better than a team that wins the Superbowl.

And at times like this, I try to be a comfort to those who are dealing with the imminent passing of a parent.  And so I hold my friends in my heart as I pray for the souls of their parents.  For my friend who lives locally, I brought over a meal.  And I pray, because I know that some days, my friends are kept aloft on the wings of prayers.