I said goodbye to an old friend yesterday. At his funeral, people spoke of a great man, a loving father, a dear friend, a devoted community leader, and a committed Jew. It is precisely because of all these wonderful things that he will be so sorely missed. His was a life well lived.
He lost the battle with his disease after a valiant protracted fight. The final rounds of that fight were postponed so that he could be at his daughter’s wedding, the daughter who was his bone marrow donor. He promised he would be there at the wedding, as he promised to be with the family for a final Seder, which he was. And then passed. Such was this person.
He made an Ethical Will, a final gift to his family, a family that knew the full extent of his love and devotion. But it was still an opportunity to say goodbye in a deeply personal way and leave his blessings upon each member of his beloved family. It was so meaningful that his Ethical Will was mentioned in the eulogy at this funeral.
We all will pass someday. What we leave behind is the legacy of our life, the experiences and nurturing we each will do. A final word of love is an extraordinary gift. It will keep you alive in memory, word, and deed. Take the time now to leave yet one more precious gift for your loved ones, your Ethical Legacy Will, a gift that will endure.
