“Jesus knew that the hour had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end.“ John 13:1 NIV
One out of one dies. The math is hard to argue.
And yet, most of us live as if we’re the exception. We push the idea of death far into the future—or better yet, out of our minds completely. But end-of-life planning isn’t really about us. It’s about those we love—the ones we’ll leave behind.
In the Gospel of John, chapters 13–17, we see the Farewell Discourse. It’s Jesus’ final conversation with his disciples before the cross. He washes their feet, shares a final meal, teaches, and prays. It reads like a love letter to his closest friends—a sacred goodbye.
That inspired us.
Recently, my wife and I met with our financial advisor to get honest about a subject most people avoid: what happens when (not if) one of us dies. Out of that meeting came one of the most meaningful ideas we’ve ever acted on: we created a Family Love Letter.
It’s not a legal document. It’s a labor of love.
It includes what our kids will need—passwords, funeral plans, location of documents, beneficiaries, and more. But it also provides something more personal: a preamble. Our farewell discourse. Our hearts on paper.
Creating it led to helpful updates—things we hadn’t looked at in years. But more than that, it left us with a surprising sense of peace. Empowerment. Contentment. We’re now preparing to gather our family to share what we’ve done, why it matters, and most importantly, how God has provided every step of the way. It’s all his. We’re just stewards.
Bob Goff, one of my favorite authors, once said, “Around your deathbed you’ve got room for eight people—nine if they’re skinny.”
Who are your nine?
And what will they face if something happens to you?
We already know the stat: one out of one…
Today, your first step is deciding to take a step.
Not for you—but for them.
Run the play. Take the next step.
““The first step toward getting somewhere is to decide that you are not going to stay where you are.”
Chauncey Depew
💬 Finding Our Place in the Story
What legacy of love or faith would you want to leave if today were your final day?
Who would be most affected if something happened to you, and what could you do now to lighten their burden?
What’s one small but meaningful step you can take this week toward creating your own “family love letter”?
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