I can be a deep thinker at times! What do you hope the afterlife will bring for those you have cared for? Or for yourselves after you die?
My grandfather used to say that heaven and hell are right here on this earth. I find so much truth in his words.
A life filled with sickness can certainly be like hell on earth. A life as a caregiver caring for the sick is also a life in hell for some. Others find it rewarding. It’s an extremely personal experience.
When things are good in our lives it can feel like a little piece of heaven!
Regardless of my fallout with my mom, I sincerely that hope her suffering will be able to be managed as much as possible and at least ease up. I hope that she finds complete peace and joy after she dies. It takes death to end the suffering completely because Parkinson’s disease is progressive and there is no cure.
I hope all of my family and friends that have passed on are at peace.
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I have mentioned before that what I feel is important is that my spirit is remembered with love. Sometimes my head gets too swollen and I think how much I may be missed! To me my biggest achievements have been my family. I worked for many years but for a variety of people. I never had a career but I am fine with that for me. My husband,children,grandchildren and mother all tell me they love me. I don't think there is anything greater in life than that.
Prayer from the film "The 13th Warrior":
Lo, there do I see my father.
Lo, there do I see my mother.
And my sisters and my brothers
Lo, there do I see the line of my people
Back to the beginning.
Lo, they do call to me.
They bid me take my place among them
In the halls of Valhalla
Where the brave may live forever.
**********************************
Viking Death Prayer
With raised sword and shield,
The Norseman yells to Odin
The Viking Death Prayer*
* The Viking Death Prayer
Lo, there do I see my father.
Lo, there do I see my mother,
My sisters and my brothers.
Lo, there do I see the line of my people,
Back to the beginning.
Lo, they do call to me,
They bid me take my place among them
In the Halls of Valhalla,
Where the brave shall live forever,
Where thine enemies have been vanquished,
Nor shall we mourn but rejoice,
For those who have died
The glorious death.
I believe the same will happen for us when we pass; we will live life through our mother's eyes to see how we made HER feel while, thus enabling us to finally understand HER side of the story.
That's 'hell' or 'heaven', depending. The 'punishment' is of our own making, based on how we treated others during our lifetime on Earth.
Love the Viking prayer!
I am a real believer in dreams. The dream world is very sacred, mysterious and comforting to me. I believe that I have gone to places in my dreams that border or cross into unexplained territory. Have you ever had a dream so real that you actually wondered if it was a dream and totally convinced that it was real? I think it might be that way. I mean, how do we know things are real right now? (Rene Descartes).
I find dreams fascinating. I think dreams are a part of our subconscious mind that stays awake as we sleep. I have had some crazy dreams and some fantastic dreams.
Have people spoken to you how they feel about death? Do you find most people are at peace or fearful?
This is true. I have had several older people confess to me that they are terrified to die. I never know how to respond. I usually ask them why they feel as they do.
I never know if I respond correctly because it’s very personal and complicated. A woman told me that she had badly mistreated her husband and felt that he did not forgive her. So she was afraid that she would be punished in the afterlife. I told her if she was sorry that God would forgive her but my answer brought her no comfort whatsoever. I felt awful for her.
What do you say to someone like that? This is my friend’s mom. It was an awkward conversation.
You say something like, let us talk to God together, tell him you are sorry, and then pray out loud together and then share the verse from I John that talks about if we confess our sins, He is faithful to forgive us. Or maybe share that verse and then pray.
Yes, it was awkward for she was opening her very soul to you in a moment of total honesty. She must trust you very much to have said that.
She is full of self doubt. She does trust me enough to speak with me. I have been friends with her daughter for years.
She gets depressed. It’s hard to see. She refuses her doctor’s suggestions for medication. She’s afraid of side effects. She has a lot of anxiety about life in general.
She believes in God but doesn’t feel like she will be forgiven. Her daughter has spoken to her endlessly about it. She doesn’t believe her daughter either when she tells her that God forgives her if she is sorry.
The happiest I see her is when her grandchildren visit. She loves seeing them. She is a great grandma now. When her granddaughter brings her young son to visit her she is all smiles. So sweet.
Sweet sentiments. I loved my dad. He overcame a lot in his life as well.
Wow! She is a very anxious and depressed person. I wonder if sharing with her bible stories about God's forgiveness, like the Prodigal Son, King David and Psalm 51, Jesus saying on the cross "Father forgive them for they know not what they have done", Jesus forgiving Peter after Peter denied Jesus. Very often hearing the Bible will build up a person's faith.
I am glad she has you whom she trusts.
I hope this might help.
She reads the Bible. She knows scripture. She has zero self worth. I am hoping that she will accept forgiveness one day.
Her granddaughter brings out the best in her. She adores her great grandson. I am hoping that she will be able to convince her. She’s very close to her. Her great grandson is absolutely precious. That kid could put a smile on anyone’s face.
I don’t have grandchildren. I love when he is at my friend’s house because he has the cutest personality and is so much fun.
Those with zero self worth, need a simple book or article that explains that the Bible in Genesis says we are made in the image of God and how that applies to our self worth. Christians often struggle with this and are helped by books or articles that focus on who I am in Christ.
Is this helpful?
Its a different thing for alot of people. If they feel they have lived a good life and that everything is in order when the time comes, yes they feel at peace. Others have cried and expressed their deepest secrets and regrets with me. The last person I was with a week before he passed he said "this is the hardest thing I've ever had to do was die, everything I have will mean nothing once I stop breathing. My life I have lived to the fullest and now I really have nothing!" I told him how much he meant to me and others around him and that everything he has done for us we will always remember! The next few days he seemed to have more peace and pain levels even seem to decrease. The last day he was able to talk he told me thank you and he knew I would make sure once he layed down that he would be at true rest. Two days later I had a preacher come to do last rights cause that's what he wanted....right as the father finished, he left this Earth.
Many people I believe are scared because it's unknown, like if you walk into a dark cave... everyone has this threw out there life but at the end you are not only worried for yourself but everyone you leave behind!
That’s exactly what I feel it is for some. Fear of the unknown. Scary for them.