Emphasis Preaching Journal
When asked what they wish...
Illustration
When asked what they wish, rather than what they need, many older adults say, "To make a contribution." "To let the remaining years count." And even "To help my family by dying well." A woman of eighty-five who had just heard a prognosis of her imminent death turned from her doctor to her priest to say, "Being dead and gone doesn't bother me, but what I do want is to make it clear to people that life lived here with God is every bit worth living all the way through. I don't want to contradict that in any way. If I begin to garble that message, will you help me keep it straight?"