The International Mission Board is working on a project called The Last Letter. Mark Morris asked me to contribute and gave me permission to post mine here.

On his Mark Morris' blog (called MissionLeader and worth your time) he explains:

It's actually an ancient tradition of soldiers and missionaries who as they board a ship, write their family and friends a letter that they think might be their final communication! The resurrection of this ancient tradition is to inspire a new generation to think and pray through the reason for their life - and possibly the sacrifice of their life for a cause greater than themselves.

Mark gives the powerful example of Karen Watson, a missionary recently killed in Iraq. This letter was read by her pastor at her funeral:

Dear Pastor,

You should only be opening this letter in the event of my death.When God calls there are no regrets. I tried to share my heart with you as much as possible, my heart for the nations. I wasn't called to a place; I was called to Him. To obey was my objective, to suffer was expected, His glory my reward, His glory my reward...

The missionary heart:
Cares more than some think is wise
Risks more than some think is safe
Dreams more than some think is practical
Expects more than some think is possible

I was called not to comfort or to success but to obedience...

There is no Joy outside of knowing Jesus and serving Him. I love you and my church family.

In His care,

Salaam, Karen

The IMB asked me and the other speakers at the Catalyst Conference to write their letters and share them in a resource they will be publishing and having available at Catalyst.

Here is what I wrote (and have placed in a file for my family):

Dear Donna, Kristen, Jaclyn and Kaitlyn,

If you are reading this letter, I am with Jesus now. I know this will be a time of sadness for you, but I can say with confidence that no man has been blessed with a family as wonderful as you. Thanks, Donna, for being an incredible wife and partner. Thanks, girls, for letting me be a part of your lives. I look forward to what you will become as you grow into the young women God has called you to be.

I want to remind you of why I lived and why, though I know you will grieve, I also want you to have joy.

Christ has been exceedingly good to me through His death and resurrection. I have lived with God's joy and now happily enter His presence. My only hope is that on Earth, I left the same impression upon people that Christ made upon me. I hope people will say of me what was said of King David in Acts 13:36: "For David, after serving his own generation in God's plan, fell asleep, was buried with his fathers, and decayed" (HCSB).

On August 13, 1977, Jesus saved me and sent me. Though I have certainly stumbled, I have tried through my life and words to introduce others to the same grace that I came to know. I discovered that no price was too great to pay so that one more person could know the Gospel, one more pastor could be encouraged with the Gospel, one more church could be challenged by the Gospel.

I have labored to comfort those afflicted by sin and this world. I have also tried to afflict those who have become too comfortable with the Gospel and not cared about the world. My life passion has been Jesus and loving all of you. My life's ministry has been to help God's people to love others and engage in His mission as well.

The many days of family, work, travel, life and laughter were all the chance to discover how God could do exceedingly, abundantly more than I could ask or imagine. I am happy to have lived fully and been loved deeply.

I will miss you ... at least for a while. Live a full life, filled with the grace of God and the joy of each moment. Jesus will wipe the tears away -- yours and mine. Let's remember that we will see each other again one day. Love Jesus, live well, and I will see you soon.

Love,

Your husband and dad

Writing such a letter makes you think about what matters. Thanks to Mark Morris and the IMB for the invite to do so.