Fulfilling the wishes of loved ones who have passed on is an essential sign of respect and appreciation. Many of us try to follow their requests with great care, hoping to give them the peace they deserve. Yet there are times when we are genuinely unable to fulfil their wishes or any part of them. In such cases, we may wonder whether they can still find peace or whether these matters continue to affect them.
The short answer is that they are not concerned, as long as you have done your best and were genuinely unable to carry out their wishes. If, however, someone ignores those wishes out of indifference or a lack of effort, that becomes an entirely different issue. The most meaningful way to honour our loved ones after their passing is to respect what they asked of us because it reflects our love for them. We should maintain the same values, mindset, and lifestyle that mattered to them when they were alive. This is even more important to those who care for us from the other side.
I once witnessed a family dispute following the death of a father. One side wanted to bury him while the other wanted to follow his stated wish for cremation. The situation became more complicated because the deceased had been suffering from dementia, which caused serious doubts and ultimately led to conflict. Eventually, the family chose cremation based on witness testimonies. When the father later came through from the other side, he explained that, in hindsight, he did not care much about what happened to his body. What mattered to him was that his family resolved their disagreements. He would have been content either way.
Sometimes, the things we believe are essential for them may not matter to them at all. There is a far broader perspective on the other side, and their former earthly desires become unimportant as they grow beyond them.
