Don't Save It For The Funeral

Discovering A Better Life
P.O Box 1540, Albany Western Australia 6331
Phone/Fax: (08) 98 418 418
E-mail: abl-alb@omninet.net.au

Don’t Save It For the Funeral
An elderly man lay dying in his bed. In death’s agony, he suddenly smelled the aroma of his favourite Anzac biscuits wafting up the stairs. So he gathered his remaining strength, and lifted himself from the bed. Leaning against the wall, he slowly made his way out of the bedroom, and with even greater effort forced himself down the stairs, gripping the railing with both hands. With laboured breath, he leaned against the door frame, gazing into the kitchen. Were it not for death’s agony, he would have thought himself already in heaven: There, spread out on the kitchen table were literally hundreds of his favourite Anzac biscuits. Was it heaven? Or was it merely one final act of heroic love from his devoted wife, seeing to it that he left this world a happy man? Mustering one great final effort, he threw himself toward the table. His aged and withered hand made its way to a biscuit at the edge of the table, when his wife suddenly smacked it with a spatula. “Stay out of those,” she said. “They’re for the funeral.” That man’s wife is not the only person to save something for a funeral that should have been shared long before. It often seems a shame that flowers are sent at a funeral rather than beforehand when they could truly be enjoyed. In fact, many of the comments made at a funeral reflect the realization that we didn't express our feelings adequately to those we love while they were alive. As one who has conducted many funeral services during the past 35 years, I have heard many people express their regrets with statements such as: “What a wonderful friend she was. I never told her how much I appreciated what she meant to me!” Or, “I hope he realizes how much I loved him!” Friend, if someone means something special to you, don’t save it for their funeral. Share it with them now! Don’t wait until it’s too late. That’s what happened to Thomas Carlyle. He’d loved his wife for 40 years. She had been a joy to him, helped him become a stronger person, but suddenly she died. He wrote in his diary, “Oh, that I might have you for five minutes by my side, that I may tell you all.” Every day for 40 years he had had that opportunity, but now he would have given anything for just five minutes. But the five minutes were never given. Here’s the good news, though. Today, my friend, you have that five minutes. Is there something you have left undone, something you should correct today? Something you intended to do but haven’t? Or have you thought about something life-changing that you might do someday? Let me make a suggestion. Take five minutes today to begin doing and saying what you need to do and say to those people who are special to you. Like I mentioned earlier, if someone means something special to you, don’t save it for their funeral. Share it with them now! Email me or write to me at P.O Box 1540, Albany W.A 6331. Telephone / Fax (08) 98 418 418 Have a great day! -- Ron.

Don’t Save It For the Funeral

An elderly man lay dying in his bed. In death’s agony, he suddenly smelled the aroma of his favourite Anzac biscuits wafting up the stairs. So he gathered his remaining strength, and lifted himself from the bed. Leaning against the wall, he slowly made his way out of the bedroom, and with even greater effort forced himself down the stairs, gripping the railing with both hands.

With laboured breath, he leaned against the door frame, gazing into the kitchen. Were it not for death’s agony, he would have thought himself already in heaven: There, spread out on the kitchen table were literally hundreds of his favourite Anzac biscuits. Was it heaven? Or was it merely one final act of heroic love from his devoted wife, seeing to it that he left this world a happy man?

Mustering one great final effort, he threw himself toward the table. His aged and withered hand made its way to a biscuit at the edge of the table, when his wife suddenly smacked it with a spatula.

“Stay out of those,” she said. “They’re for the funeral.”

That man’s wife is not the only person to save something for a funeral that should have been shared long before. It often seems a shame that flowers are sent at a funeral rather than beforehand when they could truly be enjoyed. In fact, many of the comments made at a funeral reflect the realization that we didn't express our feelings adequately to those we love while they were alive. As one who has conducted many funeral services during the past 35 years, I have heard many people express their regrets with statements such as: “What a wonderful friend she was. I never told her how much I appreciated what she meant to me!” Or, “I hope he realizes how much I loved him!”

Friend, if someone means something special to you, don’t save it for their funeral. Share it with them now! Don’t wait until it’s too late. That’s what happened to Thomas Carlyle. He’d loved his wife for 40 years. She had been a joy to him, helped him become a stronger person, but suddenly she died. He wrote in his diary, “Oh, that I might have you for five minutes by my side, that I may tell you all.” Every day for 40 years he had had that opportunity, but now he would have given anything for just five minutes. But the five minutes were never given. Here’s the good news, though. Today, my friend, you have that five minutes. Is there something you have left undone, something you should correct today? Something you intended to do but haven’t? Or have you thought about something life-changing that you might do someday? Let me make a suggestion. Take five minutes today to begin doing and saying what you need to do and say to those people who are special to you.

Like I mentioned earlier, if someone means something special to you, don’t save it for their funeral. Share it with them now!

Email me
or write to me at
P.O Box 1540,
Albany W.A 6331.

Telephone / Fax (08) 98 418 418

Have a great day! -- Ron.