I got an e-mail from Cindy today that touched me and got stuck in my head. She is in Southern Minnesota to be with her mother, Katherine, a retired psychologist in hospice, dying from State 4 Pancreatic Cancer.

“My mother has read your blog first thing in the morning with her coffee for some time,” wrote Cindy, a school teacher just outside of Minneapolis.

“She went into hospice care this week and is not expected to live very long.  She is very near the end, conscious for only a few minutes early in the day.

She has graciously accepted dying and is ready, she says to let go. She has never been a complainer; my father died a few years ago. She wants to see him again. She has been a great mother and helped many people in her work. We love her dearly and are at her bedside.

She loves your flower pictures; they are printed out and pasted all over the walls in her hospice room.  She loves your writing about your life and Maria, and she is proud to be a member of the Army Of Good. She asked me to make sure she sees the blog every morning to show them to her; the colors bring her comfort and cheer. She says they do remind her of Georgia O’Keefe.

I hope you don’t mind my asking, but I was wondering if you could put up a flower today and perhaps mention her.  Your blog has always been a part of her day; she forwards many of your pieces to the family and her friends. She says she wants one of your flower photos to be one of the last things she sees, after me, of course, and my sisters. Yours, Cindy.”

Cindy, thanks for writing me, and please tell Katherine I am grateful for her message and good words and humbled by her request. I recognize her name, she has supported the Mansion and refugee work.

She sounds like a wonderful mother. Of course, I will honor her wishes today and tomorrow until you tell me otherwise. Please thank her for following my blog and tell her Godspeed from me.

I can sense how loved she is. That is a wonderful thought to have at the end of life.

I write a lot about the cruelty and hostility online and the busybodies who love to tell other people what to do and how to live. I don’t post enough of the very beautiful messages I receive. That is a truer picture of people’s feelings in my messages.

Right after I got Cindy’s message, I got this one from Sheridan.

Both meant a great deal to me.

From Sheridan: Thank you Jon. I’ve read your blog off and on for years. I have learned a lot of spiritual lessons from your vulnerability and truth. This is one of the deepest pieces of wisdom you have conveyed—be present, vulnerable and love. Thank you.

Thank you, Sheridan, this is one of the nicest notes I’ve gotten this weekend. I appreciate it. Since I sometimes put up some of the snotty and patronizing ones, I should make an effort to post more like these and share them.