Dear Joseph,
You were the favourite son from the moment you were born
and the blessings your father dishes out reflect that. Their wording identifies
what your father thought of all of you boys.
You had been estranged for so long and then found him
again, but by then he was elderly and approaching death. How did that feel for
you?
You are clearly moved by his death and make sure his wishes
are met in terms of where he was to be buried.
I take it when the embalming is referred to it is the
Egyptian form of mummification which we are today familiar with from the bodies
found in the pyramids. Did you follow other customs we associate with that time
such as burying specific items with him?
You were clearly touched by his death, which was marked by
those from your adopted country too.
I wonder if other siblings felt relief that they could now
move on as well as fear as to how you might act.
I think whilst most mourn the death of their parents the
emotions are not as simple as we are often led to believe. Because in our
society death is somewhat taboo we do not often discuss it and yet I think we
need to.
Sometimes death can be kinder than life. I really worry
that in our society we are so focused on life that we keep people alive too
long when they have no quality of life.
I wonder how your own sons felt about your death. Was it
your status that meant you knew you would have to be buried in Egypt but your
heritage that meant you knew your bones should be moved when your ancestors
moved out of the land?
You clearly were aware of your own mortality. Did that
thought of death scare you or not?
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