And The Greatest of These Is Love...

Once again, I spent this past weekend in Atlanta with my family. My  stepmom is fading quickly, and we've been savoring every moment with her as if it is her last, because at this point, it really might be. The weekend was a very powerful, very spiritual, very life-changing one. Everything changes once you've watched someone die, and although  she is still with us, it feels as though she has already turned into an angel, and has just stuck around to share her limitless love with us. I feel like I grew up a lot this past weekend, and my understanding of the world completely shifted--I'm so thankful that I was able to be there. 

Although I'm still processing everything that is happening/has happened--and trying to figure out how to fit back into normal, everyday life while we wait for Anita to take her last breath--when I reflect on the past few days, I'm already struck by two fairly tangible, universal themes:

1) That when there is nothing left in life--when our bodies have stopped functioning, when we can no longer speak or even move--we still have love. Love truly does endure all, and it's importance was exponentially clear to me this past weekend. Anita can't form clear words and can hardly move anymore, but she can still give us little hugs, kisses, and small smiles. I know she could feel our love, and we could feel hers. Love is more powerful than I ever understood it to be. 

2) That the human body is truly amazing. It can and will hold on, even when the organs stop working, when it is starving, when it is full of painkillers, when it is dehydrated, when it is being ravaged by cancer, when it has nothing to go on anymore--it will continue to try it's best to function for us and keep us alive. This is yet another reason to take care of our bodies and show love and gratitude for our bodies--because they, too, are with us as long as we are alive on this earth, and they do so much for us, even when we don't always treat them as they should be treated. 

I know that there are many more lessons to be learned from this experience, because there are so many lessons to be learned in every life experience--even pain and death--but it's not always easy to see them when you're in the thick of it, so that's all I'm up for sharing with you today.

I hope that these simple reminders above will touch you in the way that they have touched me. I'm so grateful for all of the love in my life--and am so grateful that I was able to witness such a beautiful weekend at Hospice. 

I hope your Monday is full of limitless love and much gratitude for your body...

Namaste,
Mary Catherine