As most know, I am a daily journaler. I keep a simple diary filled with mundane events of the day, the weather, a funny comment, rants about the traffic on the parkway, or crazy thoughts and scatter-brained ideas. Since the beginning of the year, I have tracked my meals, weight, and exercise in an attempt to get healthier. My daily entry always ends with a note of thanks or a blessing from God.
This morning as I was working on a journal page, I had a strange thought. What if I had exactly fifteen minutes to write whatever I needed to before my soul was called to Heaven? Okay, I know it’s a morbid thought but honestly, the thought was so profound that I really began to think about it.
Some people might cringe at the thought of having to actually write something, by hand, in fifteen minutes time. And I do know of some, I’m not mentioning any names, whose penmanship is so messy that no one would be able to read it even if they did take the time. But writing, in cursive, is a pleasure for me and now considered to be a dying art, so just on a whim and in 15 minutes (actually, it took 20 minutes, I timed it), I wrote my thoughtful and "final" words.
Because my thoughts are so personal, I won’t share my writings for all to read. But, I will say that my carefully chosen words were addressed to the most important people in my life: my mother, my daughters, James, my grandson, and my sister. And, if your name didn’t make the list, please don’t be upset. I just ran out of time. That will be a project for another time.
Maybe, taking fifteen minutes to jot down a few words of love and thanks is just too daunting, too time-consuming, and too silly, for many people. But for me it was a good exercise. It has caused me to really think about the people I love and why. And I wonder, have I told them lately?
And what about you? When was the last time you told your loved ones what is in your heart? Do they know how much you really love and care about them? May I suggest taking 15 minutes (or more) and with an open heart and pen in hand, write them a love note. It might be the best gift they will ever receive.
