Many of us struggle with what to say when someone has died, when bad news arrives, when things are hard. Or we need to hear some words in those moments.
Words to say. Words to hear. In hard times.
A hospital chaplain can help.
#socialmediachaplain
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What I assume (but don’t know for sure) about that time while someone is dying.
I was sitting next to my mother’s bed, keeping watch during the last hours before she died. I’d been a hospital chaplain for a few years, long enough to know what I said to other people, now having to tell them to myself. I don’t have any way to prove what I’m about to suggest.…
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A short conversation in a scary moment.
Finding words of support in hard times isn’t about formulas. It’s mostly about listening, avoiding uninvited advice, and offering support for the current moment. Here’s a recent example, with some commentary on why I said what I said. +++ A friend texted the other day: “The police just brought my dad home. He got lost.…
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Hey Boomer. We’re dying.
I wanted to write something to my generation. I was prepared to be sarcastic. “Hey Boomer! Tell your kids that you are going to die so they know what to do when it happens. Because we are dying.” I wanted to write it because I work in a hospital. I talk to families before and…
The writer
A hospital chaplain with a PhD in communication can help you find the words.
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Finding words in hard times 