What Do You Say?

What do you say when someone is dying? When it might be the very last words you ever say or write to them.

Do you pretend like they are not dying and try and lighten the mood? Do you say that you are praying for a miracle? Do you wish them peace, comfort, and deliverance from pain? Do you do all of the above?

What if they don’t know they are dying? What if they haven’t accepted it? What if they don’t want accept it?

Besides telling them that you love them and are praying for them, what are you really supposed to say? I’m tasked with this tonight and I have no idea what to say. I’m running out of time and it could be days or minutes. Or maybe it ends up being a few weeks or a month. I essentially got a text earlier today from my mom saying “you need to contact her ASAP.” My mom and I both seem to have this keen sense of knowing when death is imminent and I can’t explain it…maybe it is from both of our experiences in the medical field.

I’m debating if I should try and call, but I’ve heard she’s not accepting phone calls. Update…I just tried calling in the middle of writing this and no answer. Phone calls are so much easier though, because you can have an open and honest conversation rather than trying to guess what to say and hope you chose the right words.

I’ve never really had to do this before. Most of the people that are close to me have passed unexpectedly or suddenly and I didn’t have the chance to sit around and ponder what to say. I just am going to pray that I say the right things; that my words are comforting.

Life is not easy. Some things we just can’t prepare for.