As I sat by her side
In the still of the night
With only the ticking of the clock
Echoing in my mind
I held her hand ever so gently
Whispering words of encouragement
That it is okay to let go.
The circle of life upon her soul
Has reached its crescendo
And I am present to witness her last breath.
The dawn of tomorrow is yet to appear
While the season of her transition is near.
I contemplate the passage of time
Her childhood, childbirth, and now her child
Guiding her home.
In the flow of life, we may forget to take moments
That can forever alter the course of our destiny
And bring us lessons for wisdom, growth and inner peace
When on the threshold of our last breath
It is then we may understand
What we have missed, what is really important
As the choices we make, the thoughts we think
And the actions we take
Are but a reflection of who we have become.
Beneath the surface though
Is another layer
One in which the essence of our being resides
No judgments, no fear, no need to control.
As time marched on, and it became surreal
A knowing the finale was imminent
I closed my eyes and prayed
For her spirit to be released
And the pain, suffering, and anguish
To dissolve.
Tears of sorrow and yet celebration of life
Permeated the room
I stroked her hand, as a mother would do for a child
Feeling her presence for the last time.
I am reminded daily of the fragile nature of living
We are all in the process of dying
The importance of how we treat each other
Is a testament to the power of peace and harmony.
In our last breath
May all of humanity realize and recognize
Individually we have the strength and courage
To make this world a better place.
Dedicated in memory of my mom….
*This was first published in BIZCATALYST 360° and is reprinted here with permission.