Dear Judy,
Our family is having a huge argument, and I thought I’d write just for the helluvit, no pun intended. Our father, who is dying of congestive heart failure, diabetes and lots of other issues, insists there’s a life after death (or, as he would put it if he were healthy enough to write, a Life after Death…)
I personally am an Atheist and believe in no such thing. My sister, who isn’t an Atheist, believes when you die, you die. That’s it. God’s done with you.
We wonder if now that our father is dying, maybe we should tell him what we think (we were never allowed to mention our doubts growing up). We are both in our 30’s, and I think it’s past time we spoke up and spoke the truth as we see it.
My mother is begging us to keep quiet, but she won’t say why. Should we do as she says?
Jason
Dear Jason,
Your mother is a very smart person. Before you — or your sister — speak up, ask yourself this: What purpose will be served if you speak your mind about an afterlife (or lack thereof) now.
Will it make your father feel any better? Will it convince him you and your sister were right all along?
I always think the dying should have the last word. Not because their last words are necessarily correct. But because it will make them feel better.
That’s all that counts.
Thank you for writing
Judy
