My mom continues in the final leg of her journey from this life into the next. My brothers update me regularly on her condition, and I’m able to briefly speak with her every so often. Her memory continues to amaze me. In her lucid moments she knows who I am, and always inquires as to how my husband and pets are doing. Her sense of humor is still on point.

My stepdad told me that the other day, as one of the nurses was getting mom resituated in her bed, mom whispered in her ear, “You’ve got the nicest pair of boobs.” My stepdad didn’t hear the conversation but heard them both laughing and asked what was so funny, so the nurse relayed the story.
“What do I say?” The nurse asked my stepdad laughingly.
“Thank you, I guess. That just means she’s still with us,” he laughed back.

When my dad was in his battle with lung cancer, he too amazed me with his calm, peaceful demeanor, and his sense of humor through it. He was more worried about the daily life for his kids over his own health issues and his infectious “Muttley” style laugh always lightened the mood no matter what was going on Muttley | Hanna-Barbera Wiki | Fandom.

But death is no laughing matter, and from my experiences with witnessing death, the more I wonder about the process, especially within our human thoughts. When the word “terminal” hits our ears and we’re fully aware that our days on earth are truly less than some number, what goes through our minds. I found this article especially helpful What Goes Through Dying People’s Minds, According to an End-of-life Counselor – Science & Health – Haaretz.com.

So, what is death biblically? What does the Bible say about death? | GotQuestions.org. There’s a lot packed into that concise explanation from GotQuestions.org, in fact, it states the Christian belief. For me, it’s a reminder that I allowed myself to go through almost fifty years of life while running on my childhood misunderstanding of the Bible. So much could have been clearer to me if I had only asked or researched my questions long before I did. That’s a regret I have, and it makes me wonder, can we die without regret? This article is interesting Dying With No Regret Is Trending and That’s Not a Good Thing (thedailybeast.com).

“In the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent.”
– Acts 17:30

When my dad couldn’t play golf anymore, he told me, “Those days are over.” He seemed sad about it but had hope that he’d get to play against Arnold Palmer one day in heaven Welcome to Arnold Palmer | Arnold Palmer. But dad only had that kind of hope because of his faith and belief in Jesus.

“Looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him
endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.”
– Hebrews 12:2

By mom complimenting her nurse on the youth of her body, I wonder if mom misses certain things from her own youth. As her body has changed and gravity has taken its course, is that something she sees in others and misses for herself?

“Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.”
– 2 Corinthians 4:16

Have you ever heard an older person say, “I don’t feel this old in my mind, but my body feels it?” I can relate to that statement. Thinking of it in terms of eternity, when we die, we’re just shedding the pod so our spirit can really begin to live.

“If we live, we live for the Lord; and if we die, we die for the Lord. So, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord.”
– Romans 14:8

“Very truly I tell you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life
and will not be judged but has crossed over from death to life”.
– John 5:24

The main thing I’ve noticed about dying is the final humbling of ourselves to death. This article is interesting Humility and Death to Self, Humility, Andrew Murray, Christian Classics books at BibleStudyTools.com.

“He humbled Himself and became obedient unto death.” – Philippians 2:8

Our personal walks with Jesus are all different. In my own return to the Lord, the steps He has taken me through and will continue to take me through to break my pride have been intense at times – but it’s all been worth it to enable me to shake off the effects of flying solo for so many years. I don’t believe that I’m as joyous as Jesus’ brother James over it, but I understand the direction that James gives for the testing of our faith (James 1:2-18), and I have experienced the outcome of joy from it.

It is the joy of heaven that all Christ followers look forward to through the humbling of death.

“Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you,
casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.”
– 1 Peter 5:6-7