In conjunction with our theme of Tender Moments, last week I wrote about my need to be present for the many tender moments before and after my dads death on March 12th. Dying, death, and grief can have hard moments and tender ones, and sometimes both at the same time. I think about when multiple relatives and grandchildren came to visit Dad when he was a patient at Hershey Medical Center. Dad asked to spend time with each one individually. Because it was getting increasingly harder for him to speak clearly, I was also present for these visits to help interpret what Dad was saying. Those were very hard and tender moments. Then there was the surge in energy he had when my mom and I were with him a few days before he died. Dad was so appreciative of our time together and we all expressed our love for one another. Again, both hard and tender moments I will never forget. Im so grateful I was able to be present. It takes courage to be present and well talk more about that next week.