Gradual Changes

"Nature gives to every time and season some beauties of its own; and from morning to night, as from the cradle to the grave, it is but a succession of changes so gentle and easy that we can scarcely mark their progress. " Charles Dickens


Fall is the time of year when I often reflect on change, progression, and the cycle of life.  Because change is usually so subtle we don't always appreciate it or notice it is even happening.

I have recently come to know an elderly woman in our ward, Huguette May,  who is dying.  She has one son still living in Texas who never comes to visit or call her, so basically she is alone.  A few weeks ago Mike and I went to her home to visit and although she was weak and breathing heavily, she was able to share some tidbits about her life.  She is incredibly bright, independent,  and well-educated, but has no friends or family and is somewhat of a hermit living with her cats. She now has no one other than church members to look after her and seems to have no desire to live.

This last week she went to hospice and we went on Sunday to visit.  She had declined to the point where she could barely formulate a sentence.  She could arouse herself for a minute, but then fall right back to sleep.  Yesterday when i visited she was lying flat on her back with her mouth and eyes open, but was totally unresponsive.  The nurse said she would die soon.  I have watched her decline each time I have visited and i have thought about how her last days on earth have been so lonely and how different it would have been with a family supporting and loving her.

**Gradually and certainly we all will die, but how we live each moment of each day is completely up to us.**