Our Goodbye Shouldn't Be Like This

This week I had the privilege of conducting a short funeral service for a beautiful lady who succumbed to COVID-19 in a nursing home. I thought of the thousands of people suffering the same fate and I thought of their sorrow for relatives and friends. I hope the sharing of these words of commital will be of some comfort to those who have not had the opportunity to say their goodbyes to their loved ones in this "time of the virus".

Transcript

Our goodbye shouldn't be as quiet as this.

Only a handful of people beside you on your final journey.

None of the usual companionship or comfort before or after your death.

Your kind hands and your beautiful face wrapped in a protective cover.

Our goodbye shouldn't be like this.

When the virus hit,

It struck you like a tsunami.

Knocking you over.

The newsreader said,

Today the virus has claimed another 77 lives.

And on that day you became one of that dreaded number.

But you have never been a statistic to us.

And you never will be.

Not a statistic on the day of your birth all those years ago.

Not a statistic on the day your long and good life came to an end.

To us you were everything.

You were in your time a daughter,

A sister,

A wife,

A mother,

A grandmother,

An aunt,

A neighbour,

An ever faithful friend.

You made us a family and your people a community.

Our goodbye shouldn't be like this.

But now as we return you to the universe from which all life comes and to which in the end all life ultimately returns,

We want you to know this.

Your goodbye will not remain as quiet as this forever.

We promise you when this is over as in time it will be,

Your good life will be celebrated as it should be.

Reviews

Thank you Tony. I am grieving after a death not related to the virus but nevertheless these words provide comfort at this sad tine. Namaste

Yes, many such thoughts as my mother’s death approaches.

So precious. Thank you for the beautiful offerings you put on Insight Timer for us.

I hope you got that beautiful celebration to honor that special woman and to give and receive communal comfort.

My heart goes out to you and your family Tony. It’s so hard to loose someone special and very difficult during these times. I hope you get that wonderful celebration of life soon. And never forget what an amazing person you had in your life.
This was beautiful. 🙏🏻💕

Dear Tony and family: so very sorry for the loss of this special person. Blessings and comfort to you and your loved ones.

Thank you Tony, today this meant so much to me...your beautiful words expressing my thoughts.

Very poignant Tony, thank you.

Thank you 🙏. This is so beautiful!

Beautiful. Thank you

Tony thank you so much for this little meditation. I just lost my mom two months ago not to covid. I couldn't be with her in the hospital and I couldn't be with her at her funeral. I just hope that Mom knows how much I love and miss her. thank you Tony be well. ☮️🙏💖☘️

Just beautiful. Thank you.

So kind and honouring for a well loved soul.

Your words are always so kind, touching, and profound. ❤

Thank you my friend. K

Just beautiful Tony. Thank you as always for your beautiful and timely words. Namaste to a beautiful soul💞🙏

Thank you for speaking these poignant words on behalf of everyone who has lost a loved one and who grieves not only the loss, the the inability to say a proper goodbye. This was very meaningful. Namaste 🙏

Deepest condolences, Tony. A beautiful tribute. Thank you for sharing.

Quite beautiful. I am sure people will borrow from your words of solice.

Thank you Tony. Your messages touch me deeply.