My mom is dying, going to need an ear.

[Brian37]

I've been away for several days and just found out, I'm very sorry you are going through this, life can be so cruel and we are never prepared for it's cruelty. Keep in mind time will help ease your pain, stay strong to honor her memory.

GC

One thing mom does that many theists don't do is listen. It isn't a mater of "cruelty". Even she knew that. It is a mater of harsh reality. I use the word "evil" in a far different context than a theist in regards to my loss. Same with the word "cruelty". A slow death is scary and painful to anyone who goes through it. And for anyone who witnesses it like I have it is emotionally painful. But it is not some magic battle between a sky hero vs a ground villain. 

I have every intent on honoring her memory. I hope my planing her memorial today will do her justice. I also hope to start a education scholarship and if I can will put the link in my sig so anyone who wants to donate can. We cannot avoid the end of the ride, but we can do what we can to do justice to family. My mom spent her life teaching and caring about others and especially me. Life has very horrible aspects in it and my mom having to suffer like that is horrible, watching it is horrible. But to me all the events of the universe and evolution lead to our species and my mom. That it even happened is incredible. Mom's kindness and giving is incredible. So all I can do now is put something in place to honor my mom. 

If you have my mom as a friend, if she loves you, you have everything.

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I do want to restate and make it clear to any theist not just GC, but any theist, including CL, your human empathy is fine and I do appreciate it. But one thing atheists need is the ability to freely express ourselves just like a theist would. Your intent isn't the problem. Everyone has family and it hurts. My issue is the logic behind where the theist thinks our compassion and empathy come from. I simply do not assign it to a deity. It comes from evolution. 

My mom really is great at listening even when she doesn't agree. She is as I said a holiday Catholic at best, more of a believer "just in case" at best. But I love the fact that she will listen to me when I explain why I do not agree with theists logic as to why we exist and where our emotions and behaviors come from. 

Mom listens to me debate with theists and even other atheists, and will ask me what my response is and what their response is. She doesn't always like my word choice in those things, but she certainly does understand what it is like to be a minority Catholic in a mostly southern baptist area. 

It still remains that all 7 billion of us are the same species and we all have loved ones and feel the same joy and pain in life. It hurts and I do feel hollow right now, but if you like I do, have someone as wonderful in your life as I do my mom, it is something most certainly to be valued and celebrated and remembered.