Being thankful

To bersyukur (being thankful) is to be appreciative of what life has to offer. 

About a week ago I visited a colleague whose father had passed away.

Having been unwell for a few months, he drew his final breath early Friday morning (considered a blessed time), a few hours after his family and friends recited the Quran in his home.

I was told by my colleague's son (the deceased's grandson) that the passing was swift and appeared peaceful. "His last breath was short and his hands were in prayer position (right hand over left, rested on his stomach just left of the belly button)".

To my question of "How do you feel?", my colleague said, "bersyukur (thankful)". Bersyukur? I inquired, as I thought she would have used the word "relieved" considering he had passed on and was no longer in the state that he was in.

She said that she was thankful for being able to have spent time with her father before his passing and was there when he passed away. She was thankful for being able to be with him in the hospital and later at home, talking to him, praying for him, wishing him good night and good morning, and tending to his needs.