What do you say to a dying person, especially if she is your 86-year-old mother who is looking forward to dying, growing more frail and fragile by the day? Mom wasn’t long for this world when I decided to read the following prayer from Home with God: In A Life That Never Ends (p. 296-297) by Neale Donald Walsch.
“The God of your understanding is with you now, even in this hour, at this precise moment. If you have no understanding of God, that will not matter. God is still here, in this place, with you right now, whispering to your soul, “You are welcome, whenever you are ready to come Home.”
You shall not be turned away, not for any cause or reason. If there be cause or reason you believe to be valid, God—should you want God to—in this moment invalidates it. God—should you want God to—in this moment erases it. God—should you want God to—in this moment makes all paths clear, all roads straight, saying, “Make way for my beloved, who chooses to be Home with God.”
This prayer is offered for you, wonderful child of the universe, as you embark on the most joyful journey you have ever taken, filled with wondrous surprises. A journey into the greatest happiness you have ever known, and the grandest experience you will ever have.
Dream now of glorious things. Dream of every fantasy come true. Dream of every pain disappearing, of everything of which time has robbed you being given back to you again. Dream of seeing loved ones once more—those who have gone before and those who will follow.
Know for a certainty that when you leave here, you will be again with all those who have held a place in your heart and have gone before. And do not worry about those you leave behind, for you will see them, too, again and again, and love them, too, again and again, through all eternity, and even in the present moment. For there can be no separation where there is love, and no waiting where there is only Now.
Smile, then, at the joyful anticipation of what is in store. These gifts have been laid up for you, and God has only been waiting for you to return Home to receive them. Peace, joy, and love are you, and are yours, now and always. So it is, and so it shall be, for ever and ever. Amen.”
AN OCEAN OF EMOTION
I didn’t expect Mom to perk up while listening to this message, but she did. Mom whispered to me in a tired voice: “I really like the message in this verse, Denny. It’s very soothing and nice.” I was heartened how gladly Mom basked in the sunny words by this ocean of emotion of a message. Mom asked me to re-read the passage several times over the two week course of her final stages of life.
“Peace, joy, and love” are YOU, my one and only, Mom.
ABOUT PSYCHOLOGIST, SPEAKER AND AUTHOR DENNIS E. O’GRADY, PSY.D.
Dennis E. O’Grady, Psy.D., is the author of Talk to Me: Communication Moves To Get Along With Anyone. Talk to Me is dedicated to Elizabeth Merrill O’Grady. Dennis is a loving son, brother, father, husband and psychologist who now fully believes “Death is Gentle.” Dennis can be reached at www.drogrady.com.