21 Regrets people confess on their deathbeds

Aletelia ^ | December 7, 2016

[NYer]

We’ve all heard the old saying that “People on their deathbeds don’t say, ‘I wish I’d spent more time at work…'” More often, people’s regrets are truly about “what I have done, and what I have failed to do.” A Spanish priest, Father Nelson, has listed the sort of regrets he has often heard while accompanying the dying, and we reprint it here from our Spanish edition, with permission.

These regrets seem all too familiar to us, and the list seems well-worth keeping before our eyes, for the good of our souls, and our hearts and minds, too! We might even use this list as an examination of conscience, or to help us to pray for the grace to live in a way that might prevent our feeling these regrets later in our lives.

1. For the times when I set a bad example, and there were people who followed my lead
2. For my indifference in the face of someone’s suffering
3. For failing to say so many words of praise, recognition and encouragement to those who deserved them or needed them
4. For claiming credit for my triumphs but blaming my failures on circumstances
5. For having failed to respect someone’s innocence or having blocked someone’s dreams
6. That I wasted money on things that I didn’t need and never used
7. For the times I took too much time and not enough effort to forgive
8. For taking advantage of someone who loved me, in order to get something for myself
9. For not being careful to guide those I should have educated better, before it was too late
10. For not visiting or sharing time with people because I thought they weren’t interesting, educated or useful
11. For fleeing the cross so many times
12. For savoring adulation even while knowing it was false
13. For complaining much more often than I gave thanks
14. For the stubborn, vulgar or rude words that came out of my mouth
15. For participating in conversations making fun of God, the faith or the Church
16. For wasting so much time on empty things… time that can’t be gotten back
17. For the promises I didn’t keep
18. For the times that I could have and should have prayed more, and above all, with more love
19. The solitude of Christ in the tabernacle hurts me
20. That I hurt or harmed someone in any way
21. For lacking love. I should have loved God and my neighbor much more.

Read more: Praying for the dead, when no one else will

[NYer]

Catholic ping!

[aspasia]

For spending too much time on FR instead of . . .

[NonValueAdded]

Reminds me of the “Dead Like Me” episode “Vacation” (Season 1, episode 13). An interesting show that would be better without the profanity.

[Lazamataz]

22. I regret I’m dying.

[DJ Frisat]

I regret only voting against Hillary Clinton ONCE in the 2016 election...

[mad_as_he$$]

Winner!

[Vigilanteman]

Noticeably absent:

For not spending more time at the plant or office and enhancing my chances to climb the corporate ladder.

[The FIGHTIN Illini]

NFL lesson to be shared

[The FIGHTIN Illini]

Spellcheck grrrrrrr. BFL

[Hostage]

Keeper.

[Pravious]

Voting for Mitt Romney.

[2banana]

Nothing on coke and hookers?

[wbarmy]

I wonder at this list.

The couple of times I thought it was over, I was thanking God for what He had allowed me to do and the family He had given me.

No time for regrets, just thankfulness for all I had been blessed with.

And then I got to thank Him for escaping the death trap.

[Alas Babylon!]

Father Nelson is a strange name for a Spanish priest!

[Hostage]

No choice was good, even staying home or not voting. There was nothing of any good anywhere to be found.

Voting for Romney was in most cases a likely vote against Obama. Ironically, a Romney win would have been worse as Obama has been so much better for the GOP and hopefully conservatives.

The challenge going forward is the GOP and its occupancy by people calling themselves conservative. Hopefully, President Trump will rid us of a lot of that.

[Flavious_Maximus]

22. For thinking that the current pope is NOT a heretic and for believing that liberals in general are good people.

[Big Red Badger]

BLASPHEMY !

HERETIC!

BURN THE WITCHES!

(With Love ,of course. )

[Political Junkie Too]

"I only regret, that I have but one life to lose for my country."

-PJ

[Responsibility2nd]

Nothing on coke and hookers?

I guess they didn't ask Charlie Sheen.