Stay With Me, Remain With Me Here

Posted on by rita kowats

The chant, “Bleibet hier, Stay With Me,” has been a haunting backdrop for me this week. Serious illness and painful life transitions in my faith community and family have called me to hold vigil with those whom I love. With Marge Piercy in her poem, “Gracious Goodness” I ask, “Why is there nothing/I have ever done with anybody/that seems to me so obviously right” than to hold vigil with others? Stay with me. Remain here with me. Watch and pray. Watch and pray.

And now my sister-in-law is finally at the end of her agonizing journey through Alzheimer’s. She is in hospice at a memory care facility three short miles from me. Stay with me, remain here with me. My vigil candle ablaze, I look toward her care unit and send light. An adaptation of the Loving Kindness prayer finds its way to Phyllis on each breath I send:

May you be safe from harm.
May you be free from fear.
May you be released from pain.
May you pass into light in peace.
I love you, Phyllis.
May I let you go with joy.

There is solace for me in this commingling of spirits.

6 thoughts on “Stay With Me, Remain With Me Here”

  3. A wonderful way to support your sister-in- law.

    On Thu, Apr 13, 2023 at 2:23 PM Spirituality Without Borders: Reflections

    Like

    Reply

  4. Good morning Rita, You have been on my mind, now I know why. “Stay With Me, Remain With Me Here,” resonated in my soul, as I read your words. Then the words came, “I will be with you always, even until the end this time.” Matt. 28:20. During this Resurrection time, the living Christ, is with you and us, and your Beloved sister-in-love will be with you always. Blessings, Diana

    Sent from Mailhttps://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=550986 for Windows

    Like

    Reply

Leave a comment