HERITAGE OF HOPE is a preventative ministry designed to make your fourth quarter and your departure from this world as trouble free and God-honoring as possible. More and more, however, we receive inquiries from alumni who wish to support someone who is now facing the end of this life—unprepared. Typically, the alumni’s friend is in much pain and confusion as they have been surprised by a terminal diagnosis or a debilitating injury. Many manage to forget or ignore their mortality to their own detriment. Nor surprisingly, procrastination reduces your options.

For example, a recent request concerned a couple in which the man was dealing with late stage cancer, and his wife , his caregiver, had broken a hip falling down the stairs. Except for the kind-hearted person calling me, there was not an identified support system nor the legal paperwork to empower anyone to help medically or financially. Of course, God ministers to us in our times of suffering, but we also need the helping hands of friends and family. For lack of planning, the caring friend is going to carry most of the weight of caregiving as well as battle bureaucracies to obtain the few options left open. Procrastination reduces your options immensely and makes your last days much more difficult for everyone involved.

WHAT DO YOU GIVE UP BY PROCRASTINATING?

  • You give up the time and perhaps lose the mental capacity required to research all your options. Did you know, for example, that there are professional, licensed guardians and conservators if you do not have family members capable of these roles?
  • You may give up the mobility to personally visit funeral homes, care facilities, or meet with an attorney. Subsequently, you will depend on the input of others and/or be limited to the standardized legal forms you can download and have notarized.
  • You give up options that require a degree of health and participation like moving closer to a dear friend or family member.
  • You give up your authority. The sicker you are, the less likely you are to hold your own in a family discussion, and the more tempted are family members to grab the reins. Initiating family meetings while you are still functioning well, enables you to be the decision-maker and express your personal preferences about how to manage your last illness.
  • You give up the option to carefully write your own testimony for your memorial service. Letting fear reign also undermines your stated faith in the One who died to give us eternal life. (II Timothy is the “swan song” of the apostle Paul.)
  • You give up the time to comfort those you love—time to prayerfully write letters in which you recall special moments, state your love, commend character qualities, and extend blessings. (John 13-17 is Jesus’ last “family meeting.”)
  • You may give up the opportunity to make amends, say good-bye, forgive, or instruct loved ones aloud.

WHAT DO YOU GAIN BY COMPLETING YOUR HERITAGE OF HOPE CHECKLIST?

  • You can be at peace and exhibit the reality that Jesus Christ defeated death.
  • Instead of confusion or crisis, there will be a well-discussed plan in place.
  • Instead of competitiveness or conflict, everyone will know who is in charge of what. Your people will be a team whom you trust to be in charge of your care and affairs. Your wishes and faith will be known.

Pull out your HOH Workbook, (or purchase the new, updated HERITAGE OF HOPE WORKBOOK) and review what you’ve accomplished on the HOH Checklist. Is everything up-to-date? Perhaps you are overdue for a team meeting? Why not review the entire HOH Video Series with family members and friends that have yet to do so? One couple did this a few years back. To their surprise, three of the relatives that joined them are now with the Lord. Let’s help one another finish this life well, so we honor our Savior and bless our people.

WHAT DOES VICTORY LOOK LIKE AT THE END OF THIS LIFE? 

 A known PLAN.  An identified TEAM.  A shared PEACE.