Many people saw the 2006 film, Amazing Grace, about the British slave-trade abolitionist, William Wilberforce. In summary, after his conversion to Christ as an adult, Wilberforce, a powerful member of Parliament, sets all his energies toward stopping the 19th century British slave trade. Despite many obstacles, and through decades of labor, he succeeds, and then dies shortly after.
There is a new book, “Amazing Dad: Letter from William Wilberforce to his Children,” that gives us a look at another side of Wilberforce. That is his fatherly counsel to his children, captured in the thousands of letters he wrote them.
The author has culled through these many letters and drawn out the best ones. They are organized into categories, such as money, relationship with God, friendship, and so on.
In chapter 5, we see Wilberforce telling his children about the inevitability of death, and how Christians should view the passing of life:
“It affects me deeply to be now corresponding with three sons- one of them a husband and father and two of them at college. So life passes away. O may you be ever aware of the rapid flight of time and of the uncertainty of life, that whenever your summons shall be issued you may be found ready. How year passes away after year and first one person is snatched away and then another.”
He goes on, mentioning the passing of his wife and daughter, “My mind has been rather drawn to reflection by yesterday’s having been our beloved and I confidently hope our sainted Barbara’s birthday (already joined by our sweet little grandchild). How true it is, in the midst of life we are in death. Be you also ready. And then, my dearest child, then we shall never part.”
I like this next little part about keeping an eternal perspective: “It is right that we should abstain from all aerial castle building and remember that not only the time is short, but events uncertain. We know not what a day may bring forth. . . This world is not our rest, and it is best for us that our schemes for the future should often be disappointed in order to teach us our true condition. . . It is best, however, that we should accustom ourselves to submit all that concerns us to the disposal of our Heavenly Father who will never leave or forsake them that put their trust in Him. It quite rejoices me to see that your are seeking Him.”
In hospice care, we see many people dealing with the approaching of the end of their lives. To those who are nearing death, and those of us who get to walk with them, Wilberforce’s words are like well-driven nails.
