My Mom is at Peace

Today my mom gave me one last powerful and awesome gift.  I was there to participate in her passing.  I was able to tell her how I loved her, what a great mother she had been and how we couldn't have asked for a better one, how sorry I was to see her like she was and how I would suffer it for her, as I know she would have suffered it for me.

I told her I was going to start praying, and as I started, her breathing was heavy and rough.  She had just been bathed and it was very painful for her.  But as I prayed, her breathing became more regular.  My sister was there and prayed with me in the beginning, but she had some things to do and my mom's medicine to get ready.  As I continued, my mom's breath again became very heavy, almost a moan, and I almost called out to my sister to come, but after a minute or so her breathing became very calm and peaceful.

My sister came in with the medicine and remarked how peaceful my mom was.  My mom swallowed the medicine and I told her I was almost done, just another couple prayers.  When I was done, we noticed my mom was no longer breathing.  We were just awed at the timing.

I am absolutely sure this is the kind of death my mother would have liked.  I am so grateful to have been a part of it.  She was in her own home, listening to the prayers she loved the most.  She had no pain or lingering suffering.  She was lucid to the end.  She was so peaceful, we thought perhaps she had fallen asleep.  I feel good about my part, about arranging for her to see her beloved sister one more time and for praying with her.

Thank you all for the great suggestions for reading.  I was going to start reading next, but we never got that far.  Thanks for caring, and being there, for your kind words and thoughts.  And most of all, for the gift of yourself.  God bless you all.