I grew up in a large extended family-on a ranch in a remote area-we must have been taught from day one to accept the fact of death and not fear it-it was just time to go to God. The reality of death for animals -livestock gets slaughtered for food and there’s deer season-does tend to make seeing the dead less frightening-we never were bothered by the ritual of touching a dead relative’s hand for the last time while saying we’d see them again-and when I was 7, I witnessd the death of a great aunt from cancer, along with many other female relatives present at her home, some of them already cooking the funeral supper as we kids opened the windows and doors-another ritual. I think Latinos in general have a rather fatalistic and pragmatic view of life and death. That said-don’t want any viewing of myself, either-I and most of my family intend to be cremated and ashes scattered on our property when God says our number is up.
What a wonderful perspective. You are so spiritual. I am inspired by your writing that. I want to share that I have faced death 4 times. Each time I received from God the peace that surpasses all understanding.. it was unmistakable. Almost humorous. All around me was chaos beyond seriousness but I had Jesus. You have Jesus. We are saved.