Death

A comment back on my post "What if?" referred to dignity as a moral vanity though they are entitled to their opinion, which has some religious undertones, I have mine. Words conjur up many meanings for each of us, this lovely language lent itself to the dichotomy of thoughts. I have the pleasure and the sadness of experiencing the dying first hand. I think of the man whom I had cared for several weeks who I feel had a great amount of dignity (worthiness). I held his hand and wiped his brow as he took his last breath alone with me because his wife who was disabled was unable to be there. She passed herself three weeks later but not until she let me know that I had help keep her husbands dignity. You see, I called her moments before his finally passing and laid the phone next to his ear ( he could not speak) so she could tell him how much she loved him and would be missed but she would be there soon. This broke my heart but it gave this women her peace and him his worth. Through a simple act of honoring ones worth and wishes I was able to be a part of this. I will never forget this couple and the lessons they taught me about honor, dignity and strength. These are things we carry through living but we also take to our death. From my lips to their ears.