PREPARING FOR THE END OF LIFE

Recently my family has been struggling with a very tough situation. My father is very ill and has been in the hospital almost consistently since having a stroke in October 2018. I have had a lot of things that crossed my mind along the way as far as things that people should focus on more before these difficult times arrive. We can consider our options now, while we are healthy and not in a haze of stress and confusion.

Preparing for the end of life

There are many important factors financially, emotionally, and legally to be addressed before we or our loved ones are ultimately faced with hard choices. I am not an expert on any of this but I can say that as a daughter faced with all of these questions and as a health care worker for many years I know that these things are so important.

Life insurance

you may not see the need at this point but for many people owning life insurance can be an important factor in protecting their families. Life insurance protects your family from loss of income due to their loved ones' death. It can also be an important safety net covering funeral, burial, and other related expenses. I am not an expert on life insurance so I will leave you with just the basics here. I can say when you do not plan ahead financially it can have devastating results for your loved ones. We chose a term life policy in our mid-thirties that pays out enough to eliminate our debt, cover a funeral, and leave a small cushion for one of us.

A standard last will and testament

What is a will and why is it important at the end of life? A will is a legal document containing instructions on what to do with an individual's property and money upon their death. Drawing up a will sounds like something you just don't want to do. However, this provides clarity and peace of mind for you and your family. Many sibling relationships have been strained as a result of miscommunication. This article may help explain further about a standard last will and testament standard-last-testament

Living will

If you have heard the terms "will" and "living will" you may not know the difference, but there is one. This article may help to explain the differences between the two better than I ever could. Hopefully, it can help you to determine the best course of action to get started establishing one in your own life. standard-will-vs-living-will A living will is a written statement sharing a person's desires regarding their medical treatment in circumstances in which they are no longer able to express informed consent, especially an advance directive. This is so important in helping both medical staff and your family make tough decisions based on your wishes for your final days. Basically, it speaks on your behalf, concerning medical care if you are unable to communicate. I have witnessed families agonizing, guessing, and even fighting over what their unresponsive family member would have wanted. Some helpful resources to help you understand a living will better are ..... mayoclinic.org/living-wills , eforms.com/living-will , vitas.com/about-hospice/advance-directives

Power of attorney

Another extremely important thing to have in place is a power of attorney. A power of attorney is described as "the authority to act for another person in specified or all legal or financial matters. A legal document giving power of attorney to someone." Some helpful resources for power of attorney..... americanbar.org/groups/real_property_trust_resources/estate_planning/power_of_attorney , lawdepot.com/contracts/power-of-attorney-form

Right now I want to challenge you to do the hard thing and face what none of us wants to in life. We should accept the reality that we are not immortal and recognize that there is an end for all of us. Our time will come and none of us knows exactly when that will be. It is one of the toughest things that you will ever have to plan for, but it is one of the most crucial.

Why is planning for the end of life so important?

What you do not plan for today can leave your family devastated and struggling to manage without you. One of the most thoughtful ways that you can show your family that you love them is by planning this all in advance. Give them clear answers so that they won't fall into arguments over what your wishes are. Do not leave hard decisions up to them, as they may not be supported by other family members. Your family can then focus on what is most important at the end which is being there for you in your final days, celebrating your life, and comforting each other.

The most important choice you can ever make

Even more important than all of these things is preparing your own soul to move into this next chapter. Making sure that you know where you are going when you die is the most important task of all. As a Christian, I believe that there is life after death and that there is forgiveness from sins and hope for the future.  I would love to help you find all of these things before you meet God and make sure that you know for certain that you will enter heaven when you die. In the bible, there are many passages that discuss the hope of life after death and how we can be sure that we make it there to meet our creator.

Bible verses that give us the hope of life after death

John 11: 25

Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live.

John 5: 24

Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life.

John 3:16

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.

Romans 6:23

For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

1 Thessalonians 4:13-18

But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep. For this, we declare to you by a word from the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord, himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord. ...

Revelation 21:4

He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”

Romans 10:9-13

Because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. For the Scripture says, “Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame.” For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him. For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

A decision and a prayer

There is no more important aspect of preparing for the end of life than making sure that you have asked God to forgive your sins and come into your life. All other things you do to prepare for death may be important for your family but this is the most important choice you will ever make yourself.

To do this all you need to do is this: Believe that Jesus Christ died to save you from your sins and accept him into your heart. You can pray a simple prayer like this:

Lord Jesus,

I thank you for dying for my sins. I accept you into my life today and I thank you for walking with me from this day forward. Change me, Lord, fill me with your spirit. In Jesus name.

Amen