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Wednesday, November 02, 2005
Going home
By Henry L. Yu, M.D.
Aging and dying are two sure things for any Pepe, Pilar, and Nena. They are part of man’s life, mortal beings that we all are. If there’s a beginning, then there ought to be an ending, just like a prologue and an epilogue in a book, or like the sunrise and the sunset.
The mere mention of the word “old” scares people because next to old age is sickness, and then comes dying. Of course, none of us would want to get old, much more to get sick and die. Unless we no longer find life worth living or we no longer have reasons to live.
It’s not that we cannot accept death per se. What’s hard to accept is the loss of the physicality of a person, his physical absence whenever we celebrate an important occasion (birthdays, Christmas, Valentines) or when we need someone to share our agony and ecstasy, a shoulder to cry on, or to feel someone just being there. That’s why when a loved dies, we go through the different stages of grieving: Denial, Anger, Depression, Bargaining, and Acceptance. Only when we can accept the death of a loved one will we ever be relieved from grief or bereavement and be at peace with ourselves and the world.
Acceptance means being attuned to the reality that a loved one has gone back home, and that we too will be going home someday.
As we pay tribute to our dear departed friends, relatives, and the significant others who made our lives livable, more comfortable and convenient, while they were here on earth, let’s all say together:
“Lord, we thank you for all the blessings you have given our departed loved ones during their journey on this earth. We pray that they continue to glorify You with the life that they have lived and the way they made use of their blessings. For us who are still here on earth, Lord, help us not to forget that life is too short and uncertain. Let Your spirit guide us in loneliness, justice and service to mankind. We pray for the healing of all unhappy feelings that the deaths of our loved ones left in our hearts. Be with us, Lord, during our moments of sorrow, loneliness and despair. We trust in You and hope in Your glorious resurrection.
We lift up to You our grief and sorrow, confident that You will change our mourning into rejoicing that our departed loved ones are now safely back home. Let Your perpetual light shine upon them. And may the souls of all our faithful departed through the mercy of God rest in Your peace. Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord. Amen.”
(November 2, 2005 issue)
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