Making Our Deaths Gifts - from Henri Nouwen's Bread for the JourneyHow do we make our deaths gifts for others? Very often people's lives are destroyed, harmed, or permanently wounded by the deaths of their relatives or friends. We have to do whatever we can to avoid this. When we are near death what we say to those who are close to us, whether in spoken or in written words, is very important. When we express gratitude to them, ask forgiveness for our shortcomings and offer forgiveness for theirs, and express our sincere desire that they continue their lives without remorse but remembering the graces of our lives, then our deaths can become true gifts.  For further reflection ... Then Moses went out and spoke these words to all Israel: "I am now a hundred and twenty years old and I am no longer able to lead you. The Lord has said to me, 'You shall not cross the Jordan.' The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; the Lord will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid. Do not be discouraged." Moses was a hundred and twenty years old when he died, yet his eyes were not weak, nor his strength gone. - Deuteronomy 31: 1-2, 8; 34:7 (NIV) | 
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