Do you have a will?
- Written by Malita Wamala
We have faith. We have unshakable, ground-shaking faith, until the conversation turns to the subject of making a will.
That is when you will see even the most spirit-filled Christian stammer and make superstitious excuses; that is when we put faith aside and start spewing phrases such as ‘daring fate’ and ‘it is a bad omen’.
Our family head has been trying to sell to us for months, the idea of taking out death insurance, so that in the event of a death in the family, we don’t need to call for fundraising meetings.The dead silence that often meets his passionate pitch borders on the hilarious.
Until someone spat it out: “I just don’t like the whole idea of preparing for death! It is like we are inviting it.”
The same goes for making a will; even the strongest believer in “I shall not die, but live and declare the works of God...” wavers when challenged to write their will.
It feels like inviting death to one’s doorstep, which is not correct. If you have faith that you shall not die before God’s timing, then have faith and organize your life better.
Recently I felt sicker than I have ever felt in my life, and it dawned on me that I had no will. In fact, hardly anyone knew about any of my assets, or even important passwords.
So, in a moment of wavering faith at the hands of unbelievable weakness and discomfort, I picked up my phone and made hasty notes for someone to hopefully find... just in case!
Haven’t you ever been in that unfortunate position healthwise, where you put faith aside and realistically wonder,“Is this it?”
I got there and what stood out for me was the fact that I did not have a will, despite talking about making one for years. In that moment as I lay in my sickbed, I picked up the phone and quickly jotted down passwords, addresses, important information...
When two days later I felt fit as a fiddle again, I read the note and chuckled to myself. Fear is real and it is a stupid beast.
Well, in case you are wondering, I still have no will. Shame. But at least I am now determined to have one I can update every few years until the Lord calls me home. Even when you feel you don’t have that much to your name (“wills are for the rich”), put your wishes down concerning the handful of things and people that you truly call your own.