Cpl. Nathan Cirillo (pictured above) was performing his duty flawlessly…Honour Guard at the National War Memorial in Ottawa, Canada.  Attorney Barbara Winters passed by and took a few pictures of Nathan and his counterpart standing at full attention.
Moments later four shots rang out, piercing the still morning sky.
Barbara Winters did the exact opposite of what every other civilian did on that day.
She ran, not away from the shots but rather toward them.
And there he was, Cpl. Nathan Cirillo lying on the ground where he stood so valiantly just moments before.
Barbara Winters, along with three others calmly, speedily, professionally and lovingly began administering CPR on the dying soldier. The wounds were too great to overcome.
Barbara Winters did what no other person I have ever heard of do…
She began whispering in Nathan’s ear these words (Pictured above)…
Barbara recited the Lord’s Prayer and with Nathan staring right at her she said,
“You’re a good man, you’re a brave man.
You are loved.
Your family loves you.
You’re a good man.
Your parents are so proud of you.
Your military family loves you.
All the people here, we’re working so hard for you.
Everybody loves you.
You are so loved.
We’re all trying to help you.
You are so loved.”
Nathan died in her arms with those words being the “last words” he heard on this earth…
Afterward, Barbara Winters was interviewed and she concluded with these poignant, powerful words…
“When you are dying, you need to be told how loved you are.”
SeeingGodAtWorkEveryday
I wonder if Jesus knew how loved he was when he was dying on the cross…(Just wondering)
I have a friend.
Her name is Rachelle.
We have a special relationship. Outside of my family, Rachelle is the friend that I have known longer than any other person in my life. We met 43 years and one month ago in third grade at the California School in Orange, California. She has my good friend Doug Fields beat by about one or two weeks.
Through the wonders of social media we reconnected.
I have spent a good portion of my life encouraging people to say what they need to say to their loved ones before they pass away. The emphasis being on the “living” person doing the talking.
Never before had I spent much time thinking about the “listener,” the person who is dying.
Until now, thanks to Barbara Winters.
My friend Rachelle is in an unenviable position. Her father is on life support. He needs to be taken off of life support.
I have encouraged Rachelle to tell her dad all the things a daughter needs to tell her dad before he journeys on to the next life.
What strikes me today is what words, what “last words” does Rachelle’s father need to hear?
What “last words” would he like to hear?
I can think of a few I would like to share with Rachelle’s dad…
“Mr. Wolfe, this is David Dendy, as I behold the beautiful heart that lies within your daughter, as I listen to her business smart mind, as I have been the recipient of her tender care and outreach during some difficult times in my life, as I hear the joy in her voice as she boasts and brags about her boys, as I have had the privilege and pleasure of walking next to your daughter who stands so tall and so proud, I would like to say to you, “You are loved by Rachelle and your children and your grandchildren and by so many others. And oh, one more thing…’Well done Mr. Wolfe…well done good and faithful servant… well done.”
May I encourage all of you to say what’s important on your heart to those you know and love so well…
Not only for your sake…
But for their sake as well…
Whether we are dying
or whether we are living…
We all need to hear how loved we are!
If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. ² And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. ³ If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing.
So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love. (1. Corinthians 13. 1-3, 13 ESV)
SeeingGodAtWorkEveryday
Laugh often and Fear not!
David!
ps – Rachelle, you are loved by me and so many, especially your dad…My prayers are with you
David@seeinggodatworkeveryday.com