I would be surprised if I could find anyone my age (or close to it) who has not at least thought about what people would say about them at their funeral. Today I attended a funeral of an Agape Hospice patient and those exact  thoughts crossed my mind once again. Funerals really makes you stop and think about what really is most important in life.

This patient, who is also the brother-in-law of two of my dear friends, impacted many, many lives...this was apparent by the packed church which overflowed into a second room with video feed. The person doing the eulogy reflected on the man's life, a life that ended at the young age of 62 after being diagnosed with cancer just 6 short weeks ago.

The recurring theme throughout the service was one of relationships...the importance of relationships...his relationships with so many friends, relationships with his family, and his relationship with God. This man intertwined his life with so many others that it literally defined him. It was obvious that he had some hard knocks in life. But it is the way he responded to those events, and the way he continuously emphasized OTHERS over everything else that gave so many people a reason to celebrate his life today.

The minister finished the beautiful sermon by pointing to the casket of a dear, dear man and saying, "My friends, we are all going to be here one day. What will people say about you and your relationships?" Definitely food for thought - we never know when our day will come.

I walked out of the service, not only glad I got to celebrate this wonderful man's life, but honored that Agape Hospice played such a special role in his final days. It is indeed a privilege to care for so many wonderful people as their life journeys come to an end. I am quite certain that the caregivers in our Charleston office and throughout the state already know the incredible impact and value of these special relationships. After all, relationships ARE what's important in life!