If I Should Die Before I Wake - Page 1

As I was driving home from fishing yesterday, I had some words come into my head. I felt compelled to write them down, but I didn't know why. I knew I just had to put them down and send them out into the ether.  But I did not know that they were meant for one person. And that person was captured in the email. One close friend needed those words and I didn't even know it. That makes any emotional exposure totally worth it, because the words met the one they were meant for.  But I had many replies of thanks.
The friend who found the words so comforting wrote me back that her brother had died just the night before.  She was torn with pain and grief and loss and thought I must be psychic to send the email at such a time.

If I Should Die Before I Wake
Some days ago, a friend of mine mentioned that his brother’s wife had died in her sleep at the age of 51 from an aneurism. She had no symptoms and her death was sudden and unexpected. This caused me a lot of thought. I turned 59 this year, just after retiring from my job of 24 years.

I had an older brother who passed away some years ago in a kayaking accident in his early 50’s and that shook me up quite a bit. I was taken by surprise with a near breakdown all alone in a large airport on the way home from his funeral.

When I was a small child, our mother used to have us say our prayers every night and it started with: “Now I lay me down to sleep.” Thousands of children started their bedtime ritual with those words. The prayer went on to say: “If I should die before I wake...” Those words don’t have much meaning for a toddler, but now at this stage of my life, I believe they do...

If I should die before I wake, I have a great deal to be thankful for in my life’s journey:

My homeland: I am so privileged, among peoples of the world, to have been born and raised in one of the most free, educated and tolerant countries of the world. I have been able to work and play in a society where women are allowed and encouraged to learn and work in a world equal with men and with equal opportunities. More than this, education in Canada has been available to poor and rich alike and I have made myself an example of this in my work and all that I have done, for I was raised poor. I am so thankful to have had these opportunities.

My family and my friends: I am thankful to have been married for very many years to a good and honest man who was my passion in our young lives, and who is now my best friend, upon whom I can lay my affection and vulnerability in trust. I have had the most loyal and intimate women friends who have been steadfast through my adult life, who stand by me still. And I am thankful for my beautiful sisters who remain always my friends.

My animals: I am thankful to have had the amazing privilege to look into the dark mystery of a horse’s eyes, and the joy and delight in the eyes of a dog. These animals have been my loyal friends and companions even in my darkest times. I am thankful that I have known them in their ever changing spirits and moods and to have had them as my purest guides.

Throughout my life, I have been greatly privileged to ride horses, race cars, train dogs, fish in what must be the most beautiful rivers in the world, to see the sun rise every day and to lie down peacefully at night without the sound of gunfire, knowing that I will most likely wake tomorrow.

But, if I should die before I wake...I’m OK with all of this. “Om Mani Padme Hum”

I would like to see others thoughts of similar things that they have learned to be grateful for:

In the last three years I thought about death a lot, I had two heart strokes and thought death is probable any moment but then I moved on and decided to enjoy every moment and just think of good things and when the end comes it is just welcome.

Ibrahim

Now I lay me down to sleep
I pray the Lord my soul to keep.
If I should die before I wake
I pray the Lord my soul to take.
If I should live another day
I pray the Lord will lead the way.

God bless mother
God Bless father
God Bless sisters
God Bless brother

Michele

Excellent Michele

In our house...as I was a child...On the wall was one of those plaques too...But for some reason...and I haven't thought of it for years and years...But my Dad would read it differently...And NOW it's sorta funny...it goes:

Now I lay me down to sleep,
Bag of peanuts at my feet,
If I should die before I wake...
give 'em to my brother Jake...

~Bob~

P.S Never had a brother...or know anyone named Jake...

.

Yes, everyday is a gift.  When a person goes through a time where they do not know if they will wake up the next day.........  A friend asked me why I was so bright and happy the other morning.  My response?  I woke up this morning!

Live. Love. Laugh. LIFE!