As many of you will know, my mother-in-law, died recently. This got me thinking about death, grief,
sorrow and everything, basically all things related to death.
The Cambridge dictionary meaning of death is “end of life” this I feel is good if you are referring to a washing machine or appliance that no longer does what it should, but maybe not a human (more of which later).
Wikipedia meaning is the “end of life”, The irreversible cessation of all biological functions that sustain a living organism. Death eventually and inevitably occurs in all organisms.
You have to love Wikipedia.
The OED has 19 meanings of the noun death!
No wonder it is a confusing subject!
I believe it has a different meaning to all people and comes together with grief, remorse, self-doubt (did I do enough for that person could I have done more), loneliness and many more different feelings.
As I stated earlier, we say our washing machine or car or toaster or kettle has died, but what we actually mean is that they have broken and can’t be repaired. That piece of equipment has reached the end of its use to us. Does this description work for a human life or that of a pet?
Has that person come to end of its use? Have they achieved what was set out for them? To quote Benjamin Franklin, "Our new Constitution is now established, everything seems to promise it will be durable; but, in this world, nothing is certain except death and taxes."
I find it incredible that life can come to an end at any time, death comes by illness, accident, any manner of things and at any time young or old.
We as Christians believe (or maybe we don’t) that death is not the end but a new beginning.
The body is gone but the spirit lives on. As in John 11 25-26, Jesus declares, "I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in Me will live, even though he dies. And everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die." This promise assures believers of eternal life and a future resurrection.
It is difficult to know what to say to someone who has recently lost a loved one. The thing not to say is “I know how you feel”. You don’t, you can’t possibly know how they feel, you may have had a similar experience when you lost someone dear to you and how you felt, but not what the other person is going through at that moment.
I am not sure whether any of what I have said makes any sense or are just the ramblings of someone who is in mourning but hope they may give you food for thought.
To finish, a few quotes and piece of poetry:
Revelation 21:4 ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”
Psalm 34:18 The LORD is close to the broken-hearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.
Joshua 1:9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.”
Matthew 5:4 Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
When you are dead, you don’t know you are dead. It is difficult only for the others.
Oh, why do people waste their breath
Inventing dainty names for death?
On the old tombstones of the past
We do not read ‘At peace at last’
But simply ‘died’ or plain ‘departed’.
It’s no good being chicken-hearted.
We die; that’s that; our flesh decays
Or disappears in other ways.
But since we’re Christians, we believe
That we new bodies will receive
To clothe our souls for us to meet
Our Maker at his Judgement seat.
And this belief’s a gift of faith
And, if it’s true, no end is death.
From Churchyards by Sir John Betjeman