The Tribune

By Rev. Angela Palacious

We continue to hear the sad news of sudden deaths, or slower but still painful deaths. How can we help to prepare ourselves and others:

When you have children, you need to make plans for them in case you are the next traffic fatality, victim of crime or something else. Soften the blow for them and let them know (if they are old enough) and feel secure that you are providing for their future.:

1. Make a will and minimize the conflicts

2. Create a trust fund or some financial arrangement for them

3. Prepare your service and keep in several safe places to be easily found

4. Arrange for trustworthy persons to be guardians if need be

5. Talk to it when appropriate about what you believe about death if a pet dies or a person

6. Teach the values they need to survive without you

7. Create a circle of faithful friends to love them if you are around or not

When you have a business, ensure that you leave people, places and things in order. Keep the future as stable as possible for your family:

1. Computerize your information and keep hard copies and online documents

2. Delegate reliable persons to run the business for you in your presence and absence

3. Reveal to your spouse whatever needs to be known if you are not there

4. List all your debtors and creditors and whatever arrangements you have made for payment

5. Balance your time allocation to enjoy family time before you lose the opportunity

When you recognize that you are going to have to answer to the lord God almighty for the choices you have made, you put your spiritual house in order, day by day. Today is the day to put God first, to make the lord your saviour, and the holy spirit your guide:

1. Confess your sins and failures, your weaknesses and temptations

2. Accept the free gift of forgiveness offered on the cross

3. Pray to communicate with gratitude with our good and gracious God

4. Study to know God’s mind better as revealed in God’s word

5. Worship in Spirit and in truth

6. Serve with love in your heart

7. Be as authentic and as real as you can, honest and transparent in your dealings

We do not know who will be next but what we do know is that God will love us no matter what. We know that we all have to die one day unless the lord comes first. If we prepare to live for the lord now then we can die whenever our number is called with no regrets. Let us do the right thing while we have the time.