Lighting candles
We have a sort of ritual.
When a patient dies we light candles in our homes,
Over the course of the day our little WhatsApp group lights up with photos of candles lit from all over the county.
Ping ping ping.
Some won't be in work for ages because of their shift pattern or annual leave
Some won't be able to make the funeral,
Some won't feel the need to go.
We're scattered all over
But in lighting these candles
In sharing these pictures
We're in it together
We're not alone in our grief.
We light them because we're helpless to do anything else now.
Our job is done.
We light them to mark their death
Because soon there will be someone else in their hospital bed
Jarring with us.
A new family with new hopes and new fears
And for some it will be like they were never there
But they were.
And we remember them
We honour them
And we grieve
Their death means something to us.
And in time, some of us will need to process it more
But today life doesn't stop for us.
We might want it to
But we will be back at work
Or at home looking after our kids
Or running errands.
My candle burns in my kitchen while I do what needs to be done
It shows where my heart is at whilst I'm doing these things
It is my 'praying continuously'
It's my prayer where words fail me
And ultimately,
it reminds me that however dark this day is
His light can not be overcome.
When a patient dies we light candles in our homes,
Over the course of the day our little WhatsApp group lights up with photos of candles lit from all over the county.
Ping ping ping.
Some won't be in work for ages because of their shift pattern or annual leave
Some won't be able to make the funeral,
Some won't feel the need to go.
We're scattered all over
But in lighting these candles
In sharing these pictures
We're in it together
We're not alone in our grief.
We light them because we're helpless to do anything else now.
Our job is done.
We light them to mark their death
Because soon there will be someone else in their hospital bed
Jarring with us.
A new family with new hopes and new fears
And for some it will be like they were never there
But they were.
And we remember them
We honour them
And we grieve
Their death means something to us.
And in time, some of us will need to process it more
But today life doesn't stop for us.
We might want it to
But we will be back at work
Or at home looking after our kids
Or running errands.
My candle burns in my kitchen while I do what needs to be done
It shows where my heart is at whilst I'm doing these things
It is my 'praying continuously'
It's my prayer where words fail me
And ultimately,
it reminds me that however dark this day is
His light can not be overcome.