Very compassionate and brave post, thanks Erin.
For some reason, the permission part made think about Steve's blog about giving oneself permission to earn a certain amount of money. Maybe people also need to give themselves permission to let their loved one go. You can't give what you don't have. And it's no wonder so many people continue to suffer after a loved one's death, wondering what they could have done differently. I don't see how it is loving to insist that people continue to exist on life support machines, great pain and completely helpless. I know its not what I'd want for myself. It's a gritty subject, and glad you wrote about it with so much compassion.
|