Faith.

[DIGGER1155]

Thoughts and prayers Frank, never an easy time in anybody’s life stay strong Mate my condolences to you and your family

 

[Frank Owen]

Thanks for your kind words folks, I genuinely appreciate them more than I can say.

t appears that she lived life by her own terms, Frank. It also seems that she took her leave by those same terms.

You have a very rare gift, SP; your comment above is unerringly accurate. That, coupled with your ability to find the right words sets you apart from most.

I had a conversation with one of my kids the other day, they had a moment we've all had as kids, a realisation that one day you'll be on this earth without your folks. One minute your a kid and then the next life gets real.

Strange as it may sound, C, I had a similar conversation with the elder of our two daughters quite recently. She herself has two daughters, one six years of age, the other eight. Death for her is something akin to a daily occurrence as she's a doctor in a busy hospital in the Forth Valley.
She says as time gallops on she's dreading the inevitable in terms of her mother and myself.
That conversation reminded me that I actually mentally prepared myself for the passing of my own parents.

Life and time. Time and tide. A pure pain in the arse at times!

Again folks thanks a million... Definitely more than a forum.

 

[Mancbhoy670]

I'd be willing to hazard guess that some of you are wondering why an avowed atheist such as myself would post on such a subject? Well, the answer lies in the fact that I watched my sister pass away on Friday. Violet had a very strong faith, while at the same time never being overtly religious. She lived a life of quiet dignity; always respectful of others having the right to their own faith, or, as in my, case not having any.

She fought a five year battle against cancer with unbelievable inner strength. That strength, that dignity came, I'm certain, from the faith that was her life's companion.

There was a brief moment that crystallised Vi's life of faith as she lay breathing her last. She had been sleeping round the clock, eating nothing, only taking the odd drink of water, completely oblivious to our presence.

Out of nowhere, she clasped her hands and whispered a prayer; finishing by making the sign of the cross.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying it was some kind of epiphany or road to Damascus for me; my belief, or lack of it, remains unaltered. I'm just so thankful that my wee sister is no longer suffering, and that she passed in such a serene, peaceful manner. Much like the way she lived.

Vi's faith even gave me comfort.... but for different reasons.

May your God be with you.

My condolences sir, I hope that the fact that your sister is no longer suffering helps with her loss.

 

[50 Shades of Green]

Sorry to read of your loss Frank...and can I offer my sincere condolences to you and your family at such a sad time...

 

[Spherical Planet]

My best wishes to you and yours D, sounds like your sister passed peacefully, without the fear that some do thanks to the strength in her beliefs. That would be an enormous comfort to me.

I had a conversation with one of my kids the other day, they had a moment we've all had as kids, a realisation that one day you'll be on this earth without your folks. One minute your a kid and then the next life gets real.

I thought how best to deal with it and came up with....'one day everyones body will give up on them. It'll be so tired it'll just go for a sleep and be so tired it won't wake up'. But i also told her that when someone dies, people get very sad but the sadder they get means the more they loved that person. And the more it hurts, the luckier you've been to love someone that much.
I haven't been to a funeral in many years now, i know that its the done thing, but if i had my way, my cheerio will be a celebration rather than a mourning.

Its a lovely story about faith you tell.
I have to say, i envy those with faith, its a comfort for those that believe and its not to be sniffed at.
I was introduced to Catholicism by an evil nun in primary school and her band of wicked witches.
Naturally, i lost faith in a religion which was clearly created with good intentions but unfortunately delivered by the antithesis of that intention. And thankfully for me, i learned that in a way that didnt ruin the life i had in front of me, like many others have experienced through that religion.

My faith is in something bigger than us, but feck knows what that is.I have faith that its something better than the the world we see each day and struggle to comprehend.

I was relatively young when I first had that horrible realisation that my Ma' and Da' might not always be here, mate.

I remember it was whilst watching the adaptation of Oliver with Oliver Reed playing Bill Sykes, that it dawned on me and it was my first wee insight into existentialism.

As I got older and had to face these losses, it made me sad, but also made me feel incredibly fortunate to have been so loved. The losses keep racking up and the sadness still bites, but death isn't something I fear any longer. I'm not openly embracing it, but i'm certainly not giving it any more respect than it deserves.

We're all stardust, mate....dfifting through the cosmos and tripping balls seems like good times to me

 

[Magnificent 7]

I havent been on for a few weeks Frank so apologies for the late response...very sad to hear of your loss.
Faith has many paths and you can only hope that we can all find our own way in that journey when we reach the end of the road. It sounds like Violet did just that.

Hail Hail YNWA