A field agent like me who is lucky enough to be doing this great work for even a few years, undoubtedly has a personal story of the chaos and disorder that a devastated family stares at when there is a sudden loss. If our goal is to protect Catholic families from the near devastation that our Venerable founder faced, then I have to tell the story of how I can help my brother knights. The process of making sure one has adequate protection for the family is not painful; in fact since we are brother knights serving brother knights, it is often a time of not only helping to protect all that is important to a family, but also a shared experience that leads to an abiding friendship.
There are two stories I’d like to relate.
The first is about a young boy named Julius. When Julius was 7 years old his mother, Irene, who was 37, died of cancer. His father, Norman, had two teenage girls along with 7 year old Julius to support and raise. The family was forced to rely on the help and generosity of friends and relatives because Irene died without life insurance. Norman had a three hour commute to his job, but always supported his children’s activities. Julius excelled at sports, especially football and his dad spent what little free time he had fostering Julius and his talent. Julius later admitted that he “was handed a life lesson early, growing up with one parent. It wasn’t the easiest life—my dad sacrificed a lot.”
Fast forward to Julius some 30 years later and he is married, has a wife and two children. He’s done quite well for himself both professionally and financially. He has had a distinguished career and he has a considerable amount of life insurance to protect his family. Julius understands protection quite well after the early life he experienced. He understands the hardships of a family that loses a parent and what the children must go through. In his professional life he enjoyed considerable success because of those that protected him. For 13 years he was protected in his career. You see that protection for Julius came in the form of 300 pound offensive linemen…nobody called him Julius. His nickname was “Boomer”…Boomer Esiason—a four time Pro Bowler, an NFL Most Valuable Player and a Walter Peyton NFL Man of the Year. Most importantly, a husband to Cheryl and a father to Sydney and Gunnar.
“Life happens at the most unexpected of times, and life insurance is about protecting the future and the people you love,” Boomer says. “Remember, if something happens and you haven’t done the planning, the people you leave behind will feel the brunt of your mistakes.” That story comes from LifeHappens.org.
The other story is not similar at all. It’s about a member of the Knights of Columbus. He passed away recently and like in Boomer’s family, left behind a spouse and several young children. There were no whispered worries at the funeral home. There was no GoFundMe page to raise money. There is no concern that the children will not go to college or that the wedding he promised his daughter will not take place. No, their home and future are secure. Who was that knight? I don’t know; you don’t hear about those men. Because the council didn’t have to have a spaghetti dinner or pass the hat. But I assure you he was out there. But you’ll never know it…because he planned.
Let’s sit down and do some planning and put your mind at ease.
Vivat Jesus!