Before it’s too late!

Who can look into the future to know what will arise? 

In my July 27 post, I told you I was taking a break for family matters—but I didn’t anticipate being away for three weeks! 

Neither could I imagine what would happen to my heart.

My husband and I spent time with a parent nearing death. A few days ago, we said goodbye, celebrated his life, and comforted loved ones left behind.

Another precious relative, after enduring way too many tragedies in the past few months, ended up in the ER.

Three days ago, a special uncle died.

And we also continue to watch another dear one who has only days—or maybe hours—to live.

I’ve been experiencing some hiraeth moments, especially after my uncle’s death.

Do you remember my posts about hiraeth? Pronounced HEER-eyeth (roll the r), it’s a Welsh concept which, according to the University of Wales, can include “a mix of longing, yearning, nostalgia, wistfulness….”

It has to do with a strong attachment to a homelike place and a hankering to return to it. That’s what I’ve been experiencing—a longing to return to the halcyon years I spent with my grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins.

Love, joy, kindness, and fun filled those times. And total acceptance. And safety. That’s why something in me longs to return to those people and those days.

Hiraeth:

It calls our names: we recognize the voice,

and it tells us that place is where we belong,

that place, where our roots go down deeper than our roots.

That is our home of homes.

But I digress. Anyway, now you know why I’ve been away from SM 101.

And little did I know how relevant that July 27 post would be—the last post before my break. Do you remember it? I encouraged you to write the important stuff before it’s too late.

I asked:

What wisdom can you impart to your kids and grandkids before you die?

What balance? What perspective?

What reassurance?

What can you demystify for them?

And I suggested you include those accounts in your memoir. (Click here to read Write the important stuff before it’s too late.)

With these recent reminders of life’s fragility, I’m even more convinced we need to be intentional about writing our stories—for the benefit of those who come after us. Not because you and I are so great, but because God is so great.   

“The greatness of old age is that it has wisdom, which is . . . important for young people. A young person who is about to face life has thousands of problems, but an old man can demystify many of those problems.” (Father Aldo Trento, quoted in Why Grandparents Matter)

My experience with loved ones these three weeks reminds me:

Life is short.

You don’t know how much longer you’ll have good enough health—

or even life—

to put your important stories into writing.

Don’t put it off!

Related link: Hiraeth: You’ve probably experienced it

Summertime and the important stuff

Summertime. Family time. Important stuff. So...

So, I'm taking a brief break to hang out with the family. But first...

I want to inspire you with this post, Write the important stuff before it's too late, in which I ask:

What wisdom can you share with your kids,

grandkids, and great-grands

before you die?

What balance? What perspective?

What reassurance?

What can you demystify for them?

Include those accounts in your memoir.

Click here to read the rest of the post,

Write the important stuff before it's too late.

Don't miss it! You'll find inspiration!

Write the important stuff before it’s too late

“…As young people embark upon the journey of life and begin to hit rough patches," writes Johann Chrisoph Arnold, “we can provide balance and reassurance. Whether they think so or not, people who have weathered many storms possess much wisdom.

“Father Aldo Trento, a priest in Paraguay… has seen this firsthand: ‘The greatness of old age is that it has wisdom, which is…important for young people. A young person about to face life has thousands of problems, but an old man can demystify many of these problems.’” (from The Plough’s blog post, “Why Grandparents Matter,” emphasis mine)

So, since you no doubt have “have weathered many storms,” 

what wisdom do you want your kids and grandkids 

to know before you die? 

What can you demystify for them? 

Write those messages into stories for your memoir.

Write stories that give messages like:

This is what real love looks like: (write an account illustrating real love).

This is what respect looks like: (write an account…)

This is what integrity looks like: (write an account…)

This is what tenacity looks like:

This is what faithfulness looks like: 

This is what faith in God looks like:

This is what honesty looks like:

This is what real beauty looks like:

This is what joy looks like:

This is what kindness looks like:

This is what humility looks like:

Etc.

In your concluding chapter or your epilogue or post script, be sure to include thing such as:

I admire you for _____.

I respect you for _____.

I always enjoyed doing _____ with you.

I’m proud of you for doing ________.

I’ve prayed for you.

I have learned so much from you, including ____ and _____.

I’ll always remember __________.

Thank you for _____.

I love you.

Frederick Buechner’s questions can also help you write your memoir:

“…If you had only one last message to leave to the handful of people who are most important to you, what would it be.… ?

“Of all the things you have done in your life, which is the one you would most like to undo?

“Which is the one that makes you happiest to remember?

“Is there any person in the world, or any cause, that, if circumstances called for it, you would be willing to die for?

“If this were the last day of your life, what would you do with it?…” (Wishful Thinking)

Your stories can help shape your readers’ lives and assure them that you love and value them. Your stories can encourage them to hang in there when discouraged and to do the right thing when tempted to choose the wrong thing—and so much more!

Writing your memoir is not a hobby

—it is a ministry!

Believe that, and write!