Preface

By Russ Crosson, EVP and chief mission officer at Ronald Blue Trust

It was a late fall afternoon when I received a call from the son of a longtime client of mine who I knew was in declining health. “Dad has gone home to be with the Lord,” the son shared. Although I knew it was coming, it was still difficult to accept. I sat down, composed myself and offered my condolences to the family.

As my wife, Julie, and I traveled to the funeral in the small town where this gentleman had lived and worked for more than six decades, we reminisced about the impact he made on our growing family over the years. He and his wife were like second grandparents to our children and always made us feel loved and welcomed whenever we were with them. We had mentally prepared for this day, but it still seemed surreal that he was actually gone from this earth. Julie and I had made this drive every year for the past 30 years, but this time it was different. I could not help but think that a day like this is in each of our futures.