What do you say to someone whose parent is dying?
It is easy to say, “I am sorry you are dying, but I am just as sorry that you are not coming back.” This might be true at first, but the more you say it, the less you like it. Don’t say, “I am sorry you are dying, but I am just as sorry you are not coming back.”
If your mother is dying, DON’T say anything. Don’t tell her, “I am sorry you are dying. I just wanted to say I am sorry for your loss. I know your pain, and I know the joy you will have when your son or daughter is happy in their last minutes, doesn’t it?” Don’t tell her, “I am sorry you are dying. I just wanted to say I am sorry for your loss. I know your pain, and I know the joy you will have when your son or daughter is happy.” Or, “I am sorry you are dying. I just wanted to say I am sorry for your loss. I know your pain, and I know the joy you will have when your son or daughter is happy.”
I know your grief. I have known grieving parents for decades. I know what it’s like to lose a parent.
What do you say to someone whose parent is dying?
“I say, it’s not who you are that counts, but who you can be,” she said.
In February, her father told her, “I love you, I love you, I love you. I’m going to miss you.”
That’s what she said to me, when I asked if she had a prayer. As it turns out, she doesn’t.
She said her mother died in a car crash, and that she and her sister were there when she was pronounced. That’s what she said to me when I asked if she had a prayer. As it turns out, she doesn’t.
As for the prayer that really jumped out at me, she said, “I think that prayer should be in the air. Because you get trapped in your life like that, and it’s hard, and it’s claustrophobic. But at least you can pray.”
That’s what she said to me when I asked if she had a prayer. As it turns out, she doesn’t.
I can’t begin to imagine what he endured in that car crash. I’ve lost my dad. I have two sisters. I’ve had my share of hellish experiences. I’m a nurse. I don’t have any great answers, but I have a few things to say.
