when someone's dying, what do you do?

Donna is not well. The cancer is overtaking at a rapid pace, and I can't even imagine the pain she is in. Before, she would sit in meeting, uncomplaining, on high doses of morphine. Now she doesn't even make it to meeting at all. I who won't go for a small case of the sniffles or a headache am learning something about priorities and love for God. Hers is apparent.

Watching her suffer through the process of dying makes me feel helpless and at a loss. Flowers seem trite, and yet it seems so vital to me for her to know that I love and care for her. Knowing that Duane is probably overwhelmed with all the burdens that come with the emotional reality of watching your spouse die, as well as the physical caring he provides her, today I slapped together some lasagnas for him to freeze and heat when he has no time for a meal and a drive-thru seems unbearable. Donna is barely eating these days let alone cooking.

Somehow food seems like an obvious way to show caring. When everything is deteriorating around you, a home-cooked meal can provide even a little comfort. At least for me it does anyway. If I can provide a modicum of relief to these dear people who mean so much to me and have given me so much through the years, it will only be for my own benefit.