40th Day After Death

August 24, 2021

40th Day After Death

The 40th Day after death is a traditional memorial service, family gathering, ceremonies and rituals in memory of the departed on the 40th day after his/her death. The bread and water are intended for the departed and other deceased ancestors who will visit to remember him.

The 40 days is an opportunity for judgment before God. It's believed in Eastern Orthodox religions that the soul completes many obstacles known as the aerial toll houses. The soul passes through the aerial realm, which is home to evil spirits. At the end of the 40 days, the soul finds its place in the afterlife.

Source: https://findanyanswer.com/what-does-the-40-days-after-death-mean

Yesterday was Mom's 40th day after death. We Filipinos are accustomed to this tradition that every 9th days and 40th days after death of our loved ones we prepare for a simple ceremony and rituals or prayers for them. Our elders said on 9th day after death that's the day they will realize that they are already dead. While on the 40th day that's the time for them to go after life, because it is their judgement day.

We just prepared a simple ceremony for Mom's 40th day. Some Elders did her last ritual or prayers for her. Hubby just cooked Pancit Canton and Menudo. Then I just made some Egg Sandwiches. Since it's Pandemic and people can't join our ceremony, we just distributed the food to our neighbors. It made me a little emotional while doing it because the last time I distributed foods to our neighbors was on her last Birthday last May. I just felt sad because I never thought I will do the same thing but this time it's for her 40th day after death.

It is still sad that we will no longer see her again but if we think about it, it's still okay that she's already rested. She is in a better place now. She's suffering too much from her illness, even if she doesn't tell us, we know that she is very tired already. What is more important now is that there is no more pain and hardship for her. As long as we live, all the goodness and beautiful memories that she left will forever remain in our hearts and minds.

40th day is the Final Judgement of the soul. It is the day the soul finds it final place whether in Heaven or in Hell. And I do believe that Mom took the Stairway to Heaven yesterday. Everybody knows how good she is as person. My Mom was very helpful. She is always open to everyone who needs her help, she doesn't choose who she will going to help, as long as she can. She is like an angel for everyone, family, relatives or friends, even strangers sometimes. Her bone also proves that when we had her cremination after 3days burial.

While waiting at the Crematorium, one of the staffs gave us this plastic with Mom's Bone. The staff said that it is a lucky charm and it is very rare to have Green Bones during the body's creamtion. This is the first time I found out about this green bone thing and when I searched about it. It is indeed a lucky charm in Chinese Fenshui. The Chinese believes that a person with this color bone after cremation was a good person during their lifetime. They also said that this is a Lucky Charm in Business or in Gambling. So I think I need to hold Mom's Green Bone while plying bch.games, lols, just kidding. I guess at the very end of her life Mom still wants to leave something that might gonna help us in the future. I really do hope that this lucky charm will give us some luck one day. 🙂

Anyway I'm happy with this URN Necklace too. Thanks to the one who invented this. It's a good remembrance to honor our good and beautiful memories together with our loved ones who's already at God's hands. Mom maybe an Ash already but for me she will forever stay with me not just in this URN Necklace but she'll forever stay in my heart and mind. And I know she's also happy now too starting her eternal life together with our Lord. 🙂

Closing Thoughts:

We will all come to the point where our loved ones will gonna leave us forever. So while they are still there, we should cherish, take care and love them even more. Life is too short so let's not waste all the chances to prove how much we loved them. Let's not wait for the day to come, that we will gonna regret why we did not do or show how much important they are to us while they are still alive. Remember we can never go back in time, so we have nothing to do but appreciate them while we still talk to them, hug them, touch them and spend time with them in the happy moments of their lives.

That's all for today, thank you for your time reading and dropping by. 🙂

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