Ep. 47 Faith, Death & Resurrection Hope with Laurel Nicholson

Have you ever wondered how to walk alongside a loved one who is nearing the end of their life? It's not an easy subject to talk about, but it's something so many of our families will face, and having the right support can make all the difference.

This week I sit down with Laurel Nicholson, founder and director of Christian End of Life Care and Community Formation and creator of the Death & Resurrection Doula training program. We talk about what a Christian end-of-life doula does, why advance directives matter at any age, how to support caregivers through hospice, and Laurel's own story of loss, healing and learning to trust God in the long wait between surrender and resurrection.

Key Points

1. A doula is a companion, not a nurse. An end-of-life doula offers non-medical spiritual and emotional care to the dying and their whole family, encouraging caregivers and helping bridge the gap between what hospice can offer and what families need.

2. Death is not the end. Laurel's own seasons of loss, from divorce to an eating disorder to moving across the country, taught her that God brings new life on the other side of surrender, even when the fruit isn't ripe yet.

3. Advance planning is a gift to your family. Only about a quarter of Americans have an advance directive. Without one, families can fumble and argue over care at the hardest possible moment. Anyone 18 or older should consider one.

4. We attend the dying with resurrection hope. Christian end-of-life care isn't new age energy or an ethereal experience. When we die in Christ, our spirit goes to be with Him, and our bodies will be raised (1 Thessalonians 4).

"Part of the suffering is the period between surrender and resurrection." Laurel Nicholson (8:47)

Actionable Takeaways

1. Start an advance directive this year. Choose a healthcare power of attorney, write down the care you would want, and talk it through with your family and your doctor. You can always update it later.

2. Make sure your loved one knows Jesus. If you're not sure, ask. Call a pastor, an elder or the hospice chaplain to share the good news while there is still time.

3. Lean on the whole hospice team. Hospice cares for the whole family, not just the patient. Ask the social worker or chaplain for a phone call or visit when text messages aren't enough.

4. Bring music to the bedside. Familiar hymns like "Amazing Grace" and "Blessed Assurance" bring comfort and peace at the end of life, often when words can't.

5. Encourage the caregiver. Caring for a dying loved one at home is exhausting and full of second-guessing. A meal, a visit or simply sitting with them can lift a heavy burden.

What an Advance Directive Includes

• A healthcare power of attorney. Someone you trust to be your voice with the medical team. You may also hear it called a healthcare agent or proxy.

• A living will. Your own decisions about the care you do and don't want.

• Your heart and soul wishes. The Five Wishes directive also covers comfort, spiritual wishes, the hymns you'd like and your funeral.

Connect with Laurel Nicholson

Laurel is a Christian end-of-life doula practitioner and theologian, and the founder of the Death & Resurrection Doula Training Program, with volunteer and professional tracks.

• Website: DeathandResurrectionDoula.com

• Instagram: @thedeathandresurrectiondoula

• Five Wishes advance directive, from Aging with Dignity

• Between Life and Death: A Gospel-Centered Guide to End-of-Life Medical Care by Dr. Kathryn Butler

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