Last Words?

Have you ever been to a funeral and come to that place during the service where the person officiating asks those present if anyone had any words to say about the person that was deceased?

It’s a terrible feeling. You actually think of something that you want to say but you can’t bring yourself to do it for several small but important reasons.

First of all, you might just be someone who doesn’t like to talk in front of large groups of people, and that’s understandable. Many people have an issue with that. Combined with the fact that the service is obviously attended by the family, friends, and loved ones who in most cases would certainly know the person and know more about them than you ever could. Add to that the likelihood that these same family members, friends and loved ones may have never met or even heard of you or know anything about your relationship to this person that has gone on. Not to mention your own personal grief from this loss.

Pretty uncomfortable, huh?

Well there is still another even bigger reason why many people would hesitate to get up in front of a large group of people who are gripped with the burden of overcoming their grief from their loss. And that reason is that there could be others in the crowd who do know you, and are fully aware of all of the nasty, negative things they have heard you say about the recently dearly departed.

It’s a sad situation.

You may have even thought of or wanted to say something really nice about them or bring out some memorable moment or a hilarious happening that would cast a positive light on the individual, and yet we have all heard what you said about them haven’t we? Oh please.... we've all done it.

There’s nothing quite so uncomfortable or as depressing as listening to someone get up at a funeral and insincerely try to talk about what a great person the deceased was and how well they liked and appreciated them while they were here on this earth. Especially if we know that what your saying is not true, at least from where we sit.

If this has ever happened to you, don’t worry, just ask your Heavenly Father to forgive you and set your mind on the solution.

The solution?

The solution is for us to tell people what we appreciate and like about them right now, and I mean today. Every time you engage with someone you need to leave them knowing that they are accepted and approved of in your sight. Secondly, if you haven’t told them about all the things they do that you don’t like, then don’t be spending a lot of time and effort telling those things to other people that are sure to end up being in that crowd that I am speaking of.

Following this advice can save each of us a lot of heartache and embarrassment for both ourselves and others.

Whosoever keeps his mouth and tongue keeps himself from troubles.

Proverbs 21:23

Now that's some pretty sound advice right there.

We should all strive to tell the people we know and have had the awesome opportunity and privilege of experiencing their existence on this planet, exactly how much we appreciate their friendship, their kinship and our love and respect for them. And when I say we I mean “me”.

As we therefore have opportunity let us do good unto all men especially unto them who are in the household of faith.

Galatians 6:10

I don't know about you, but I’ve made up my mind that I’m going to make it a high priority to tell every person that I come in contact with exactly how I feel about them, so that they will not have any doubt about it. Now that doesn’t mean that I have to agree with everything that everyone says or does, but just because I disagree with something that you say or do doesn’t mean I don’t like you, it just means we don’t agree on everything. But if I see something good about you, or admire some aspect of your personality, or I think you display a good attitude, then I am going to make every effort to make sure that I have told you about it right here while you are in the land of the living. I refuse to wait until that uncomfortable, unnerving moment when they ask those in attendance that unforgettable question, “Does anyone here have any final words that they wish to express about this person?”

No, not me. I don’t have anything left to say. Because I told them while they were here. While they were alive. When they could use it. When they needed to hear it. When they needed to know it.