August is National Make-A-Will Month. Surprisingly, most American adults still do not have a will, or have been putting off making one.
At first glance, writing a will may feel like a big task, or one that makes you a bit nervous. In practice, it can be a genuinely reflective exercise. This process asks us to slow down and consider what will happen after us. How do we want to care for our families and loved ones? What causes do we want to keep supporting when we are no longer here to give in person?
Jesus reminds us that “where our treasure is, there our heart will be also” (Matthew 6:21). Writing a will is one way of noticing where our hearts already are. It provides a chance to say thank you to the people, ministries, and causes that have meant something to us, and hope for their flourishing after we are gone.
Many who complete a will describe a surprising sense of peace. As life brings marriages, births, and other milestones, a will can always be revised, but even a first draft offers clarity and peace of mind. Knowing where our assets and lifetime contributions will go, and that they will benefit others, is a gift to our future selves and to the people we love.
Whether we have a little or a lot, anyone can take this step.
If you have been meaning to get to this, or to revise your current will, let August be your gentle invitation. You can create a simple will at no cost at FreeWill’s website, or work with your own attorney or financial advisor if you prefer.
Within our own denomination, the Presbyterian Foundation also offers wonderful legacy planning tools, including step-by-step planning guides for individuals, an estate planning workbook, and sample bequest language, with several resources available in Spanish and Korean. You can explore them at presbyterianfoundation.org.
And if the Synod’s ministries have been meaningful in your life, we invite you to include the Synod in your plans (our legal name is The Synod of the Northeast of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)). If you have already included the Synod, we would love the chance to simply say thank you, and to hear the story behind your gift. Please reach out to Suzanne Campise at Suzanne.Campise@synodne.org.
Wherever this finds you, may this season be an invitation to reflect on the legacy you are already living with grace and gratitude.
Suzanne Campise, M.Div.
Fund Development Intern
