Perfect Timing

[Bork]

A close friend died about 2 weeks ago. He was a man I looked up to dearly and often admired. More often than not I wished he was my dad. He was an all around awesome guy.

He had been "dying" for 2 years... diabetes, failing organs, heartattacks, and strokes... yet recently he seemed like he was doing better.

He was also a christian, and often made it clear to me that he was prepared to die. He looked forward to meeting God and finding out what is beyond this life.

I was going to email him the day he died. He had been on my mind a lot that day. Later that day I found out he died that morning in his sleep, I suddenly learned what it meant to be "heavy hearted".

Okay, now to the point of this post.

In my limited experiences of death, espically those dying terminally it seems as if they suddenly get better for a short period of time. My grandmother came out of a coma for a week, wished everyone good bye and died, a friend's father with a similar experience, and my friend was well enough to visit with me and talk.

My mom contends this happens a lot. I don't know if this is really a christian question, but I do wonder if this happens often, have you ever experienced it?

It is important to me because it seems to show to me some humanity in death... a brief period of some sort of intervention.

 

[Adstar]

A close friend died about 2 weeks ago. He was a man I looked up to dearly and often admired. More often than not I wished he was my dad. He was an all around awesome guy.

He had been "dying" for 2 years... diabetes, failing organs, heartattacks, and strokes... yet recently he seemed like he was doing better.

He was also a christian, and often made it clear to me that he was prepared to die. He looked forward to meeting God and finding out what is beyond this life.

I was going to email him the day he died. He had been on my mind a lot that day. Later that day I found out he died that morning in his sleep, I suddenly learned what it meant to be "heavy hearted".

Okay, now to the point of this post.

In my limited experiences of death, espically those dying terminally it seems as if they suddenly get better for a short period of time. My grandmother came out of a coma for a week, wished everyone good bye and died, a friend's father with a similar experience, and my friend was well enough to visit with me and talk.

My mom contends this happens a lot. I don't know if this is really a christian question, but I do wonder if this happens often, have you ever experienced it?

It is important to me because it seems to show to me some humanity in death... a brief period of some sort of intervention.

God can interviene to add more time to someones life. But no one should expect it. It is good that your friend was given the chance to talk to you again.


All Praise The Ancient Of Days

 

[TexasGirl06]

I know that it does happen.....
but not all the time.

I had a similar experience when my Mom died.
The night before she died, she had a really good evening.
She looked good,
She spoke my daughter's name. (completely unable to talk prior to that)

It was a true blessing to me...from God.
This I know.

 

[DonVA]

I, too, have seen people rally at the end. My grandmother suffered a long time with cancer, and while at the end she was about half the size she was when she was diagnosed years earlier, she managed to have some very good days and seemed to be in fairly good spirits despite the toll the disease was taking on her poor body.

Her oldest daughter (my aunt) was terrified of death. Not just because she feared that it would take her mother away from her, but the mere the thought of death scared her. The rest of us in the family always assumed that we would be met by those who passed before us to lead us to heaven, or be carried away by angels to be with Christ... so death would actually be a time to reunite with our Savior, and the loved ones we have missed for so long. I know, for my grandmother, it was my grandfather and his mother that she believed would meet her as she drew her last breath.

During what everyone thought would be another ordinary day in the hospital for my grandmother, my aunt and a cousin were on either side of her, each holding one of her hands. During the commercials that ran during her "stories," my grandmother often gazed out the window at nothing in particular, so no one wondered much about what was on her mind when it would wander. Despite all the medication she was taking for pain, she was remarkably awake. But this time while she was gazing, her eyes widened, she drew a deep breath, sighed, and said "they're here!"

She never looked back at the TV. She never took another breath. My cousin tells me it was one of the most beautiful moments in her life, and how blessed she felt to witness one of the brightest expressions she had ever seen on my grandmother's face. From the way she described it, her face almost glowed.

My aunt also witnessed this as she held her mother's hand until the very end, when her mother taught her one final lesson... leaving this life is nothing to fear. I cannot tell you if it was angels, or my grandfather, or his mother, or all of them who carried her away.

It's been over 20 years since that day, and still the beauty, and the dignity of my grandmother's last moment on earth stays with me.

Her name is Hattie. She was one of the most amazing women I've ever known, and it was through her strong faith that the entire family prayed together in and out of our Orthodox church. May her memory be eternal.

 

[heron]

DonVa, thanks for telling that story.. how touching.

I've heard of a lot of people seeing angels that day, or the day before. Also decieving spirits.

The biggest thing I notice, is people having dreams and flashbacks from their childhood a few weeks before they die. They recall details with fondness, and long to go back to those times. They seem to know that death is near, but are at peace with it.

 

[Bork]

DonVa, thanks for telling that story.. how touching.

I've heard of a lot of people seeing angels that day, or the day before. Also decieving spirits.

The biggest thing I notice, is people having dreams and flashbacks from their childhood a few weeks before they die. They recall details with fondness, and long to go back to those times. They seem to know that death is near, but are at peace with it.

I would like to add a story about my great grandfather. Apparently he was an evil man drunk, pedophile and what not.

When his death came, he went out screaming and fighting. My mom said he would literally fight with the nurses and hospital staff. My mom said he did not go peacefully at all.

 

[heron]

That's so sad. It must be frustrating to know that and not be able to do anything to help him now.

I knew someone from church who started using drugs, and died of an overdose. His family didn't know what state of mind he went out in, and didn't get to say goodbye, because he'd been in a coma.

 

[039]

I'm sorry about your lost,

I've heard many stories about people gaining peace right before they perish. I just want to use a quote from another website:

Although I was never told what dad’s specific concerns were, I know that people in this type of situation often wonder, "If my organs are suffocating, will I feel like I’m suffocating too?" There is, of course, the more chilling thought, "If the muscles that make me breathe get weaker from the lack of oxygen, will I end up gasping for air in my final days?"

My mom listened patiently and helplessly as dad expressed his fears. She knew something was bothering him because this was the first time he had ever expressed these concerns.
The next morning he got up and told my mom that everything was going to be all right. He made the simple comment, "Someone told me last night that ‘Jesus is sufficient.’ " He never mentioned his special encounter again and he never exhibited any more signs of fear or apprehension.

[ http://www.biblehelp.org/death.htm ]

It can be a scary thing, and to the unbeliever, it's hard to imagine what that would be like. Gives me the chills. The posters above me are correct, though, one shouldn't expect it. We don't know when we will perish (what the new testament sometimes calls 'falling alseep'), so we should always make ammends with those we love.

Much love~

 

[BelindaP]

Yes, I do believe it happens a lot. I have seen it happen many times. It seems to me that it is a way that God allows the dearly departing to make closure with those around them. In my family, at least, dying people have talked in those last hours of seeing angels and previously departed loved ones who have come to see them on their way. We even have some cases where the dying person has said good bye when nobody knew that they were about to die.

It is one of those ways that God works in our lives (per your other post ).

 

[heron]

We even have some cases where the dying person has said good bye when nobody knew that they were about to die.

Really! That hour, or within days...?

 

[BelindaP]

Within a day, but often at the hour.

 

[039]

Just posting this because it relates somewhat to the subject, but is an extreme case:

Acts 7:54 - Acts 8:1

When they heard this, they were furious and gnashed their teeth at him. But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, looked up to heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. "Look," he said, "I see heaven open and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God." At this they covered their ears and, yelling at the top of their voices, they all rushed at him, dragged him out of the city and began to stone him. Meanwhile, the witnesses laid their clothes at the feet of a young man named Saul. While they were stoning him, Stephen prayed, "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit." Then he fell on his knees and cried out, "Lord, do not hold this sin against them." When he had said this, he fell asleep. And Saul was there, giving approval to his death.