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More Than a Parting Prayer: Lessons in Care-Giving for the Dying

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William Griffith's excellent book "More Than a Parting Prayer" delivers 100% of what it's sub-title declares: "lessons in care-giving for the dying." As a pastor I am constantly looking for helpful materials for church members serving on our Care Team. The value of this book is that any one of the 28 chapters can be reviewed at any time as part of a valuable continuing education for those who choose a ministry of presence with those who are dying. Furthermore, even if you chose to ignore the author's personal ministry experiences (which I do not recommend), the format of concluding each brief chapter with a couple of paragraphs of "Lessons for Caregivers" is well worth the price of the book. I highly recommend this book to my clergy colleagues. But pastors will quickly discover that these succinct mini-lessons can and must be put into the hands of lay people.

Bill Griffith has given us an open window into the spiritual needs of those who are dying, and those who are caring for the dying. Through warm, poignant stories, sometimes sad, sometimes triumphant, Bill addresses issues such as the power of hope, the healing in confession, prayer, and dealing with emotional and spiritual pain. An Appendix provides questions for further reflection, and will be useful for caregivers' support groups and those preparing for hospice service. Families of the dying will gain insight into the process their loved one experiences as she or he prepares for death. Though Rev. Griffith is an American Baptist minister, he sensitively writes about ministering to people of other faiths and no faith. This is must reading for hospice workers, chaplains, ministers, seminary students, and all who are interested in spiritual growth and comfort for those who are nearing the end of their lives.

Let's face it, any of us over the age of 40 will soon have to confront the issues of death and dying with friends and family, presuming we haven't already done so.

William Griffith has done a wonderful job of providing practical examples in his book "More than a parting prayer, lessons in care giving for the dying." His book, drawn from real life experiences as he provided care to the dying and their families as a pastor, is must reading. If you don't know what to say to a dying friend, or a member of their family, this book has the answers.

William Griffith allows us to follow him on his own journey of helping those that have to face the experience of death and loss. He offers insight to those of any faith so they can learn to deal with the difficulty of letting loved ones go. Anyone that has had to deal with a loved one's death (and that's all of us) can definitely benefit from reading this compact book full of inspirational stories.

The subtitle for MORE THAN A PARTING PRAYER suggests that this book was written for caregivers for the dying. Indeed, the book's format and the thoughtful commentary on each case make it a must for every caregiver's personal library. But the stories William Griffith shares on these pages stand alone and will do much to strengthen the faith of any reader.

Far from being sad tales of dying, these personal experiences of a pastoral counselor for a regional hospice organization are a source of comfort, hope and inspiration. Most of us will mourn for loved ones and go through periods of grief in our lives; this book has the potential for making those times more bearable.

Griffith says that one of the most difficult situations facing caregivers is caring for a family when a child is dying. "A tear is not very large, but when it falls down the cheek of a caregiver and drops onto the shirt of a grieving father, it is a Niagara Falls of support." Though less than 200 pages, this little book may be a shelf full of good feelings, a publication you may have trouble setting aside once you've started it.

As the author of this book I am thankful for the variety of endorsements that have been given from a number of different agencies. Following are a few from the cover of the book.

HOSPICE:

Ira Byock, M.D. director of Palliative Medicine at Dartmouth-Hitchcock

Medical Center, author of Dying Well, and The Four Things That Matter Most

"In More Than a Parting Prayer William Griffith lays his confident hand on the

shoulder of chaplains, clergy or lay ministers who seek to lend spiritual

support to dying persons. His words teach of the wisdom of being present and of

listening with an open heart.

A Christian counselor with an ecumenical heart, William Griffith offers

his experience to anyone seeking to provide spiritual support to people

confronting life's end. Griffith's wisdom encourages clinicians and friends alike to

show up, not with facile solutions, but with good intentions, a willingness to

listen and commitment to remaining involved.

Often a skillful spiritual counselor can touch places within people beyond

the reach of medications. Griffith's perspective can assist chaplains, clergy

and lay ministers in developing a prepared presence from which to serve dying

persons and their families."

STEPHEN MINISTRIES:

Joan D. Schulze, Stephen Minister, Desert Foothills Presbyterian Church, Scottsdale, AZ

"These stories helped me to understand more clearly the need for support and closure for the dying, as well as their families ... My confidence in being a Stephen Minister is greatly strengthened for having read this book."

AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF PASTORAL COUNSELORS

Gary Kriege, M.A., Diplomate in the American Association of Pastoral Counselors and Executive Director of Arizona Interfaith Counseling.

As a supervisor of a group of hospice pastoral counselors I have often wished someone were writing an account of the uniquely sensitive and meaningful encounters shared in our discussions. William Griffith has done just that regarding his pastoral encounters. In a style that touches us at a spiritual level, he wonderfully relates numerous and diverse moments of pastoral care with dying persons and their families. He avoids religious dogmatism and, true to his title offers lessons for caregivers to discover new definitions of hope as they walk briefly together.

ROMAN CATHOLIC PRIEST

Msgr. Edward J. Ryle

Retired Director, Arizona Catholic Conference

Phoenix, AZ

In his new book, More Than a Parting Prayer, the Rev. Dr. William Griffith offers chaplains and, indeed, all who serve persons facing death a rich and valuable resource. He writes as a Christian minister, with a doctor's degree in ministry, as a hospice pastoral counselor who has served over 1,400 dying patients and their families, and as one who has experienced the pain of loss of loved ones of his own. Out of his training, faith, sensitivity--and, I suspect, the inspiration and support of the Holy Spirit--he has written an insightful book which will assist others, whether believers or nonbelievers, professionals or volunteers, as well as family members, accompany and serve those who are in their spiritual journey of dying. I highly recommend it to them.