HOUR 25 - CHECK IN HOUR

LOVE WITHOUT BORDERS

HEARTS THAT CAN HOLD THE WHOLE OF THE WORLD

RESOURCES

A SHORT REFLECTION

‘I’M ALL YOURS NOW, LOVE’

Many years ago, before she died an elderly friend told me what she wanted written on her headstone. “I’d love if someone wrote - She had a heart big enough to hold the whole of the world” she said “I don’t know if they will though, because I’ve never done anything very important in my life”.

I used to visit Bridie regularly. I’d arrive at her door, she’d stretch our her arms and invite me in with a tight hug and a huge smile. Bent and in pain with osteoporosis, having given birth to 16 children in her time, she’d hobble into the kitchen and busy herself while insisting that I sit and catch my breath in the ‘good’ room. Finally, without fuss or bother, she’d arrive, laden down with cups, saucers, slices of boiled fruit cake and a very large tea pot on a tray adorned with a home made embroidered tray cloth.

Then she’d sit down, make herself comfortable, pour tea for us both, insist that I’d have a bit of cake and after taking a long, deep breath she’s declare “I’m all yours now, love”. In that moment I’d feel like the most important person in the world.

Looking back now, I’m sure that everyone who visited Bridie felt exactly the same way. No doubt she had a heart big enough to hold the whole of the world - one person at a time. Sadly, I don’t think that her family ever wrote that on her gravestone.

I’m a lot older now and perhaps it’s not unusual at this stage and in the current circumstances to contemplate death a little more. These past months, got me remembering Bridie’s hugs and her way of holding and healing the world one cup of tea and slice of cake at a time. It also got me wondering what I’d like to have written on my own headstone when I’m dead.

I think that I’d like it to simply say - “I’m all yours now, LOVE”

REGARDLESS OF THE CIRCUMSTANCES, CONDITIONS OR LIMITS OF OUR LIVES NO ONE CAN STOP US HOLDING THE WHOLE WORLD IN OUR HEARTS.

QUESTIONS TO CONTEMPLATE

What would you like to have written on your gravestone after your death?

Why does that matter to you?

THANK YOU FOR YOUR PARTICIPATION IN ‘AS THE GLOBE TURNS’ - OUR SOLSTICE RETREAT

AND FOR YOUR GENEROUS SUPPORT OF MEDICINS SANS FRONTIERS - DOCTORS WITHOUT BORDERS.

THEY CAN DO WHAT WE CANNOT FOR OUR MOST VULNERABLE BROTHERS AND SISTERS THROUGHOUT THE WORLD.

WITHOUT LEAVING OUR OWN SITTING ROOMS

WE HOLD THEM IN OUR HEARTS AND MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN THEIR LIVES.