In life - as in death

Amongst many of life's tests is the one of death.

There are two aspects to it. One of the person who is passing into the new experiences and the other of the family and friends who are left behind.

Past week brought two bad news. And both with equally difficult tests.

Two of my friends lost their father this week.

One of them is in advanced stage of her pregnancy. Her pregnancy has complications. She has had a heamorrage earlier during the pregnancy. Her father's cremation was far away. The roads are bumpy and she will be putting her unborn baby at risk if she goes there. At one end of the balance is her child and at the other is the father who loved her dearly and spent all his life for her happiness. What does she do?

I firmly believe that God gives us those tests that he thinks we have the strength to pass. I hope that He gives her the needed guidance and protection.

My other friend lost her father yesterday evening. Her father would be cremated in Nagpur. But here again, she can't go. She has a suckling baby - just 50 days old. She doesn't feel like eating or drinking or talking or doing just anything. However, she has to do all these things for the sake of her baby daughter.

All her relatives are at the cremation. They can cry. They can express their sadness by crying out loud. They can skip their meals. She can't do any of that. She doesn't feel like eating, but she has to eat nutritious food. For the sake of her child. She doesn't want to talk. But she has to talk to her child - to keep her occupied and to keep her quiet.

I hope that God gives her the patience to cling on to the new life that she holds in her hands and is able to cut the strings of attachment to the soul that has left the body that was of her father.

Both the tests had the choice of future and of the past. They had a new life to take care of and they also had the attachment to the life that nurtured their own. God's tests are difficult. But I hope that both my friends move through them successfully. I pray to God that he gives both of them courage and strength to take the right decisions and see them through - in life - as in death.