The very thought of preparing and presenting a eulogy of a close family member or dear friend is chilling—a thought we don’t generally want to entertain—for it’s associated with their passing.
Instead of waiting until then, however, perhaps we should become adept at writing them on our hearts now, so we can give them our ‘good word’ for them whilst they live.
This, of course, is a ‘thanking’ tradition I’m talking about, but it comes—or is inspired from—wanting to alleviate their burden, never adding to their existing burdens.
Thinking in ‘eulogy-speak’ crowds out the otherwise dissonant voice within about our fellow contemporaries—about the perceptible fact that their presence is adding to our burden.
Which voice will we listen to?
There is only one voice that will inform us, edifying us, in building others up—it is the voice of reasonable thanks and appreciation, lightening the burden of others, which also lightens our own burden—God blessing us in our love action.
It is God’s true voice we should listen to as we consider others equal to ourselves. We all need a good work, and more than occasionally at that.
© 2010 S. J. Wickham.
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