We always assume that we’ll have time to do things in the future. We put off taking action on important issues. We put off expressing our inner feelings to loved ones. We’ll do it later, we tell ourselves. But, sometimes, there are no more laters.
We never know when our existence on earth will cease. Occasionally, though, there are warnings. When we are told that the end is near, we can no longer wait until tomorrow. News of a terminal illness gives us a final opportunity to express our love and gratitude before we say good-bye.
Last month, my father-in-law, Jack Boyle, gave my family and I this final gift. We gave him a journal filled with our memories and our acknowledgements of his many gifts. We wrote of our vacations and the times we spent with him at home. We remembered his playful rhymes and comical actions. We expressed our appreciation for all of the meaningful ways he touched our lives.
Writing this journal made me wonder if we had told him these things before. If not, why did we wait?
Saying Good-bye
My goal is to stop putting off for tomorrow what I can say today. What about you? Take some time to write an email, a letter or try your hand at a poem. Reach out to a loved one and express yourself!
Here is what I wrote to Jack:
Jack
Naturalist in action
Beautifying the world
Planting, pruning, nurturing
Cleaning up one street at a time
Teaching all around him to be
Stewards of our Earth.
Gentleman in action
Respecting all in the world
Speaking, listening, caring
Helping one person at a time
Teaching all around him to be
Humanist on our Earth.
Builder in action
Improving his part of the world
Repairing, designing, constructing
Raising one wall at a time
Teaching all around him to be
Constructivists on the Earth.
Thinker in action
Understanding the world
Health care, poverty, religion
Learning one perspective at a time
Teaching all around him to be
Researchers of the Earth.
Father in action
Loving the world
Protecting, inspiring, encouraging
Giving what is needed at the time
Teaching all around him to be
Caregivers of the Earth.
Don’t worry about how you express yourself, but don’t put it off until tomorrow! We only have today. Let me know how it goes for you!