Stervensbegeleiding
To 'let go' is to fear less and love more
Helaas zal er een tijd komen dat je afscheid moet nemen van je geliefde huisdier en zal je met de vraag geconfronteerd worden of het dier bereid is om afscheid te nemen en of hij hierbij hulp nodig heeft. Dit zal ongetwijfeld een van de moeilijkste beslissingen van je leven zijn. Uit eigen ervaring weet ik hoe belangrijk het is deze periode goed te begeleiden en waardig af te sluiten. Tijdens mijn training bij Carol Gurney in Amerika is hier veel tijd en aandacht aan besteed en probeer ik zelf de dieren zo goed mogelijk in dit proces te begeleiden. Soms kan deze periode zelfs een bijzondere en spirituele ervaring zijn waarbij je weet dat je dier een fijn leven bij je heeft gehad en je tot het laatste moment zijn wensen hebt gerespecteerd. Voor sommigen kan ook een consult met een overleden dier voor afsluiting en rust zorgen en misschien nog vragen beantwoorden die onduidelijk zijn gebleven.
Dogs do not die
they only gain their wings and fly
If it should be
If it should be I grow frail and weak,
And pain should wake me from my sleep,
Then you must do what must be done
For this last battle can't be won.
You will be sad - I understand -
Don't let your grief then stay your hand.
For this day, more than all the rest,
Your love and friendship stand the test.
We've had so many happy years
What is to come will hold no fears.
You'd not want me to suffer so
When the time comes - please let me go.
Take me where my needs they'll tend,
Only stay with me until the end,
And hold me firm and speak to me
Until my eyes no longer see.
I know in time you too will see,
It is a kindness you do for me.
Although my tail its last has waved
From pain and suffering I've been saved.
Do not grieve that it should be you
Who has to decide this thing to do,
We've been so close -we two- these years
Don't let your heart hold my tears.
Prepared bij Jann Trout -nov. 1989
The greatest gift
I always knew this time would come,
From the very first time our eyes first met.
How I loved you then! How I love you now!
I made a promise then and I keep that promise now.
You will not suffer from a pain that will not heal,
You will not know the loss of a life remembered, now gone.
It's for me alone to make this decision,
The price for the bright joy and pure laughter
You brought me during the time we shared.
I am the only one who can decide when it is time.
When my hope dies, and my fears ride high,
Just when I need you most, I must let you go.
It's for you alone to tell me when you are ready,
For without your guidance, I will not know
When to lay my grief, my guilt, my anger,
My sorrow and my selfish heart aside
And give you the last gift, the greatest gift.
Your eyes will speak to mine, and I will know.
The pain of this moment is excruciating.
Tears stream down my face in a river of sorrow,
And my heart drowns in a pool of grief.
For you have spoken and I have listened.
And unlike other decisions I have made,
This one brings no relief, no comfort, and no peace
For if there's one thing I have learned,
Unconditional love has a condition after all.
I must be willing to let you go when you speak to me.
I must accept my pain so you can be free of yours.
Go easily now, go quickly now,
Do not linger here, it is time for you to leave.
Go find the ones who have gone before you.
You are free to leave me now, free to let your spirit soar,
I pray I will find comfort in my memories,
In the dark and lonely days ahead.
I cannot say I will not miss you, I cannot say I will not cry,
For only my tears can heal my broken heart.
But I promise you this: as long as I live, you will live
Alive in my mind, forever in my heart.
And this will be my greatest gift,
Sending you away.
Is this the measure of my unconditional love,
For only the greatest love can say
Good-bye.
Go find the rainbow bridge
We'll meet again.
Loving you has been the greatest gift of all.
(Author: Karla Bertram- 1996)
Elk afscheid is de geboorte
van een herinnering ...
