There comes a time in life when the phone rings, and it’s
the ring you hope you never have to answer. As I get older, I’ve receive
more of these types of phone calls than I ever imaged. My heart tells me Family and Friends are
supposed to be there with you forever.
When I was a younger man, I found myself wanting to be on
the other side of the world when my father was to pass – if I couldn’t see it,
then it didn’t happen. So I joined the
Navy at 23. Denial can be a temporary
safe place, just not a place to stay when a loved one faces declining health or
has died. Well Dad didn’t die during
that time, he actually waited almost 22 years after I got out – which really
was great for me!
Three weeks before my fathers’ 78th birthday,
I had a premonition that he would die on his birthday, even though his health
was great. On his birthday, Dad had an
aneurism that burst in his skull that led to a stroke, a few hours later I
asked that he be taken off life support.
While Dad’s death was something I wanted to avoid or deny
years earlier, I felt blessed that I could share time with him and to hold his
hand as they took him off life support.
I kept taking him towards God’s light, reminding him that God gave him
an amazing birthday gift, that his job on earth was done and that God was
taking him home. That was in 2000, and I’m
glad I wasn’t 7 seas away.
In dealing with the after effects of a loss, three weeks
is not much time to prepare, emotionally or for all the financial challenges
and implications that can follow.
Fortunately with Dad, he worked the same job for almost 40 years of his
life and the folks had all but eliminated their debts. Mom was truly organized;
however she had to write many letters and make many phone calls and go to great
lengths to convince businesses that her husband had passed.
Most others have not planned or prepared for the burdens,
headaches and turmoil that arise after the death of a loved one. ATFFA is here to help prepare or to stand
with or for you After the Fact.
Larry Diffie
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