Years ago I heard someone ask: “If your time had come, and you could make only one final phone call, who would it be and what would you say?
The follow up question: And why are you waiting?”
In Love Actually, Hugh Grant’s character makes the observation, “When the planes hit the twin towers, as far as I know none of the phone calls from the people on board were messages of hate or revenge. They were all messages of love.”
We often spend too much time thinking of things we’d like to say — how we would like to tell that person what we really think.
Or we think of things we wished we’d said. We often think of a snappy comeback days after the opportunity has passed, but it doesn’t keep us from rehearsing it for next time.
Instead, we should think of things we ought to say — such as: “I love you … I thank God for you … You’re special to me … You make a difference in my life … I appreciate you.”
The first chapter of Philippians gives us a good example to follow. As Paul faced what could have been his final days, he made it a point to share his heart with his friends…
(3) Every time I think of you, I give thanks to God for you.
(4) I always pray for you and I make my requests with a heart full of joy.
(7) It is right that I should feel as I do about all of you, for you have a very special place in my heart.
The odds are that today won’t be your last day on planet earth. But don’t use that as an excuse to put off saying that most important thing to one who needs to hear it.
Today’s memo is updated from a previous post. It first appeared at Preaching Library.
