(no subject)

[zyzyly]

I was at a retreat this weekend, and when I came home yesterday afternoon I had 8 phone messages. Sandwiched in the middle was one from a friend of mine who said, "I'm sure you heard already. I just wanted to talk."

I called him back, because I hadn't heard, but I was pretty sure why he was calling. His wife, who had had a lung transplant a little more than two years ago, had died suddenly yesterday morning.

We went over to their house last night to participate in the filipino mourning rituals. I talked to him for a few minutes and we hugged and hugged. He looked at me and kept saying, "she's gone, she's gone". All I could do was hug him. I had no words.

I am really good at being a nurse, and am learning how to be a good chaplain, but I feel so inadequate at being a friend sometimes. I just don't know what to do.

Comments

[weaktwos.livejournal.com]

Short of bringing her back from the dead, I think there's nothing that a friend can do, but to be there for your friend, as you were. He'll need lots of hugs, and time to grieve and heal. Just make sure he doesn't fall off the radar.

Oh, and don't crack any necrophilia jokes.

[myasma.livejournal.com]

So true, so true.