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The author
of this ethical will was a 47 year old woman who was stricken with ALS
(Lou Gehrig's Disease). In addition to being unable to use her arms or
legs, this woman also lost the use of her voice. She used a 'light-board'
for communication. This is a method where a light was attached to her head,
and by pointing to a letter board, words can be 'written'. This ethical
will took two months to produce, and was basically done one sentence at
time at each social worker visit. The effort to produce even one sentence
was exhausting, yet she insisted and persisted on creating her ethical
will for her spouse and three children. Soon after finishing the ethical
will, she died. The ethical will afforded her a sense of completion, and
also enabled her family to let go. Her ethical will was read and displayed
at her funeral.
Ethical Will of CP
The most important values that
have guided me are:
Serenity Poem
God grant me the serenity to accept the
things I cannot change
The courage to change the things I can
And the wisdom to know the difference
The Ten Commandments
You shall have no other gods before Me
You shall not make idols or graven images
or bow down to them nor worship them
You shall not make wrongful use of the name
of the Lord your God
Remember the Sabbath day and keep it holy
Honor your father and your mother, so
that you may live long in the land the Lord your God is giving you
You shall not murder
You shall not commit adultery
You shall not steal
You shall not bear
false witness against your neighbor
You shall not covet your neighbor's
house; you shall not covet your neighbor's wife, or male or female slave,
or ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor
Empathy
Walk in another person's shoes
Patience
Prepared October & November 1998
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