We’re on the stage of life for just a moment before we pass the baton on to those who will come after us. And even here we have a responsibility to fulfill – to prepare those entrusted to us to continue on after we’re gone.
To be sure, we see this example set by Jesus himself. He told and prepared his disciples for his death beforehand. And this is a good practice for us throughout our life and relationships as well.
For instance, this might be ending well at work and showing others how to continue the mission after us. And a large part of this is teaching them the true heart of the mission. As such, they can rest in and continue the core calling even as the particular expressions and tactics might change.
And while kids are typically the ones leaving home as they enter adulthood, this is still a departure we can prepare them for. For the few years they’re in our home we can diligently instill guiding principles and bedrock truths for them to take with them throughout their life. We won’t always be there to make every decision for them. And their childhood is our time to prepare them to live well even when we’re no longer making daily decisions for them.
Likewise, death comes to us all. And certainly part of our preparations here would include making a will and planning our funeral. We can also prepare our loved ones for our death by regularly practicing forgiveness, gratitude, and meaningful expressions of love. Death is hard enough and we don’t want to leave any unnecessary wounds or lingering resentment.
Whatever it looks like, we won’t be around forever and part of our duty to love is to prepare others to still carry on after we’re gone. We complicate grief and make things more difficult than necessary when we don’t.
In the end, the time of your departure grows closer with each passing day. Fulfill your duty to love by preparing those entrusted to you to continue on after you’re gone.
Photo by Leon Seibert on Unsplash
