A Mother’s Last Wishes

A Mother’s Last Wishes

Whether we are here in this body or away from this body, our goal is to please him. 2 Corinthians 5:9

Ann was ninety-five years young and had been in very good health all her life. Whenever she stopped in, we often talked more about our shared faith than we did her health. More than anything, she wanted to live her life in a way that pleased God.

As she got along in years, she often spoke about how ready she was for this life to end so she could begin her forever life with Jesus. Her husband had died five years earlier, and she wanted to see him again. Her living will ruled out any heroic measures during her final days. Her family, however, was divided about her wishes. Two of her children didn’t want to let her go without every possible medical intervention taken. The other two wanted to honor their mother’s wishes to go quietly when her time came. As often happens, the family was unable to come to a consensus.

A few months later, Ann had a stroke in the middle of the night. When she was found the next morning, they sent her to the ER. As soon as I entered the room to examine her, I could hear the familiar end-of-life breathing pattern called Cheyne-Stokes. Ann was unresponsive, and I knew the end was near.

When her children came to see her, they predictably responded according to their own desires. After discussing a few options at their request, I said, “Now is the time for you to come together as a family. Please look at her living will, and see her last wishes.”

People who have lived a long and good life, and who have a relationship with Jesus, often can’t wait to run toward eternity. But that can be hard for their family members to understand. For many years this wasn’t even a topic of discussion because we didn’t have the medical means to prolong life as we do now. Even so, I’ve observed that many seniors who live into their nineties don’t want to be kept alive artificially. They’re ready to go.

Ann’s family finally agreed to let her go without taking extraordinary measures to keep her alive. With her family surrounding her, we stood on heaven’s front porch to wish her good-bye as she stepped across.

TODAY’S RX

If your end-of-life preferences have not been formalized, consider a living will to make your desires known.

Father, I long to please you with my life. May all my choices be an effort to honor you, praise you, and know you more deeply. Thank you for being in relationship with me.