I saw a movie called “The Wind in the Barley”.  It is the story of two brothers and their friends in Ireland at the beginning of the IRA.  I had mixed reactions to the movie in general but there was one thing that really struck me.

Each time one a person was about to be executed, his enemies gave him time to write two letters.  They could go to anyone and they were delivered after the execution.  One young man wrote to his mother, another to his girlfriend, and another wrote to his daughters.  It made me wonder what I would write in a letter if I knew I was about to die.

I was amazed at how the soldiers seemed to write love letters rather than tirades about those who were about to kill them.  Love wins out over hate in the end.

Why wait until you are preparing for the firing squad to write those love letters?  I remember in the days before e-mail and text messaging when notes actually came on paper or in cards.  I could save them and read them over and over again.  I still have a basket in my office where I put letters and cards.  They say nice things.  I save them so that on a really bad day I can pull them out and read something nice that will make me feel better.

I also have a drawer at home with some old love letters from when Jack and I were dating.  When he does something that makes me angry I go and read an old letter so that I can remember why I love him and what is really important.

When my son Thomas turned 18 I wrote him a book.  I took a journal and just wrote stories about his growing up years, the funny things I remembered, the tough times we went through, the things he did that made me proud.  I knew that he was growing up and moving away from me but I wanted to be sure he never forgot how much I love him.

So if you are standing in line to be executed, what two letters will you write?  To whom?  What do you need to say before you die?  Why not do it now?