Birth and Death
by Kelly Blair ~ March 2nd, 2008This week at work my boss gave birth to her first child. The very next day one of our volunteers died. I was struck by how life and death go hand in hand.
My boss had given up hope of having children when at the age of 40 she and her husband rejoiced that she was pregnant. With multiple health factors affecting her body, this woman made it to 9 months less 2 weeks before giving birth to her healthy baby daughter.
The very next day I became aware that one of our ailing volunteers was dying. My supervisor and I visited him that very afternoon. He was lucid but laboring for breath. He died that night. We are so grateful to have had the opportunity to let him know how much he mattered to us and to the residents in a longterm care facility where he was a volunteer.
I was so struck by how in 24 hours there was a birth and a death in my community. Reason to celebrate and reason to mourn. For which there are rituals for both.
For my boss’s baby shower I asked the guests to bring a tip or piece of advice for a first-time mama on a piece of paper. Just 2 days before she left for the hospital, I presented her with a customized book of wisdom.
For our volunteer who died, we will attend his memorial service and publish articles on his unique contributions to our program.
There are rituals for entering the world and leaving the world. If you would care to share one of these with us, please go to
http://www.powerofrituals.com/
Kelly Blair Roberts
Author, Speaker, Ritual Expert
Power of Rituals for Women