What a friend we have in Jesus

Death and dying have been in my conversations recently although I haven't suffered any personal loss.

My mother now lives in Brendoncare and recently they asked me to complete a questionnaire with her. There were some fairly tricky questions that I found it hard to ask but we worked through it all and had a few laughs along the way. One question remains unanswered — 'Do you want be buried or cremated?' My mother said 'neither' as she didn't want to die. We laughed and I said that was the one thing we could all guarantee we were going to do.

I'm not sure how I will get her to make the final decision on this but we will return to it over the next few weeks and eventually she will know what is right for her.

A close friend of mine has just lost her mother and we have spent a lot of time talking about how her mother had died and the planning involved in the funeral. My friend is not involved in any church but her mother was an occasional church goer so my friend wanted some ideas for a suitable poem that could be read during the church funeral. I suggested 'Death is nothing at all' by Canon Henry Scott-Holland, as it is such a positive way to view the loss of a loved one.

These conversations both led me to think a little about my approach to death and how lucky I am that my faith makes much less of death than if I wasn't a Christian.

In our Anniversary service on Sunday we sang 'What a friend we have in Jesus' a hymn which always reassures me and reminds me that I can take anything to 'God in prayer'.

I will pray about both of my conversations and ask for support for Mum and my friend as they work through their difficult issues to do with death. May you find His peace for your concerns too.

Blessings,

Judith Janes.