Yesterday after Isaac’s guitar lesson we went to see my grandmother again.  We jumped right into our routine of singing to her, and as usual she seemed to really enjoy it.  I noticed that when I sing to her, I see the words of the hymns in a whole new way.  One hymn in particular was very meaningful to me as I sang the last verse:

While I draw this fleeting breath,
When mine eyes shall close in death,
When I soar to worlds unknown,
See Thee on Thy judgment throne,
Rock of Ages, cleft for me,
Let me hide myself in Thee.

Grandma seemed to soak in the words, and she repeatedly said “Yes….yes!”  It seemed clear to me that we are holding her hand and comforting her as she is on this final journey.  No one is pretending that Grandma is going to get better, and no one is ignoring the fact that she is dying.  Instead, we are doing our best to keep her comfortable and to enjoy these last days with her.  When I think of the phrase “dying with dignity”, I think of a negative slant.  However, when I go to visit my grandmother and see her resting comfortably on a soft bed, surrounded by loving, gentle caregivers, I am so impressed with the honor being given to her and the dignity she shows.  Someone quoted Mother Teresa as saying, “Death with dignity is to die with grace, in the knowledge that [you] are loved.”  That pretty much sums it up, don’t you think?