To every thing there is a Season and a time to every purpose under heaven. A time to be born, and a time to die… (Ecclesiastes 3)
Having faced potential “death” myself and watched many others pass from this life, I have to agree with this quote from the Bible. Every living thing has a unique destiny, a time to be born and a time to die.
My first pet, Duffy, suddenly died from a heart attack after many months of weakness and difficulty walking. An hour after his death, I watched a cloudy form of him running playfully up and down the hill outside our house. Four days later he appeared to me bodily in his youthful form. Happy. Energized.
When I had cancer, the doctors gave me six months to live unless I went through some very serious treatments – all having alarming side effects. Fear came on me. But, I remembered my twin sister who died young after a protracted battle with cancer. She also came to me after her passing and was so happy and youthful-looking.
I decided to embrace whatever was meant to be as I went through cancer treatments. In truth my life had been lived 20 years more than my twin sister and more than many people. So I decided to accept “death” if that was my destiny and the possibility of passing to another realm I have read about so often as being Love itself. My miraculous cure told me it was not my time. The promise of bliss would have to wait.
My younger sister, Mary, who died six months ago, knew she was preparing to pass on. She was accepting and cheerful. One afternoon she, in her matter-of-fact way, told me: “I will be going but you will stay. You have things to do.” I answered: “But only with your help?” She readily said; “Of course!”
Since then she has appeared in dreams to several in our family – her face radiant with joy. I feel her presence often and such a gift that is. She is my spiritual hero.
The world we live in tells us death is a tragedy. This is our wayward culture’s misunderstanding. It is not that – not for the being who has crossed over to a new place, not for the person entering a new Season.
Now, I believe it is good to release a being who may be destined for another Season. Holding on can be stressful for a one who loves me and also hears the call to Home or a call to change. Learning to let go and release one to greater things is an act of love and an opportunity for me as well.
“Not my will but Thine be done” (Luke 22:42) is another prayer that understands the same thing. It acknowledges a compassionate Creator may be calling its creation Home to joy and no more suffering; or, to another kind of Season and new and different expression.
To turn the destiny over to God/Source/Life/Creation for whatever is in the best interest of all concerned, seems the wisest of prayers.
We can never know what is best, but Life knows. A miraculous healing or a new Season elsewhere? I have discovered this is simply never my decision and it shouldn’t be. I have seen many loved ones die in my life. Without exception, there have been unusual and uncharacteristic moments of joy in them prior to their passing.
So now, I have no choice but to surrender my own will and accept the wisdom of the Divine within everyone as to what is meant to be.
And when I do, I am at peace and sometimes even joy.
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