Author's Insights

An Act of Love

The other day I was having a conversation with someone in their 40's who was astonished that people people would want to fill out my organizer, When The Time Comes. “Who wants to think about death or something bad happening?” “It is such an unpleasant thought.” “So morbid!”

As the conversation proceeded, I explained that I didn't see the organizer as a book about death in the morbid sense they referred to.

For me, filling out the organizer was an act of love for those who will be left to see to my needs while I am living, but physically unable to care for myself. No one wants or plans for a stroke to happen, or a devastating and debilitating chronic medical diagnosis, or a motor vehicle accident, or dementia, or any other medical crisis that happen to thousands of people everyday. Most of us think – not me – until the time comes and it is us!

Then what happens! Everyone in the family begins scrambling to make decisions, frantically searching for important papers, overwhelmed by the tasks that lie ahead, all while having their worlds turned upside down by a sudden death or medical crisis of a loved one.

Personally, it brings me great comfort in knowing I have helped ease that burden for my loved ones by completing the binder (and keeping it updated). Maybe it is the “mother hen” in me that says, I am still taking care of my family. Metaphorically, I am wrapping my arms around them and saying, “I left this for you to ease your burdens, to calm your fears, to help you through this difficult time.” It may be the last act of love I am able to give to them

DISCLAIMER:  The author of When The Time Comes does not claim to be an expert in the fields of banking, investments, accounting, insurance, real estate or law. The author does not provide legal advice. The information contained in this binder comes from the personal experience of the author working with families and individuals over the past 40 years as a registered nurse, health advocate, POA, Guardian and through pastoral care. Readers are advised to contact experts in the respective fields listed in the binder for additional information.

© 2022 Carol Havens | All rights reserved
No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the written prior permission of the publisher.