A Will for Peace

By Janet K. Ginn
President/CEO
Heifer Foundation

Ted and Adel Murray met while attending the same vacation Bible school in a small town in the rural Midwest. Both came from small family farms in neighboring townships within five miles of each other. Before long, they were attending the same school together and were married soon after graduation. There was a war, and then there were children.

Farming is what they knew, so farming is what they did. They raised corn, soybeans, and two bright, wonderful daughters. Ted took great pride in having grown up on a farm, raising his family on the same farm where he was reared, and providing for his family. In his community, a strong work ethic and providing for your family were the most important attributes a person could have. The couple made a decent living and had a wonderful life together.

Ted and Adel were able to give their daughters opportunities they had not had. The girls went to college and soon had lives and families of their own. Careers took them to the big city, though, not back to the farm.

Over a lifetime of farming, the Murrays acquired a choice herd of cattle and highly-coveted, rich, rolling, green farmland. For many years, their life together seemed to be picture-perfect for many years. It was only days after celebrating his 70th birthday that Ted learned he had terminal cancer. He was devastated, not for his own sake, but, for the first time in his life, he feared that he would no longer be able to take care of his family. He was restless with anxiety about what the future would hold for his wife and family. It dawned on him that out of all the planning he had put into living, there was one thing he had failed to do for his family - he hadn't planned on dying. He didn't have a will.

I met the Murrays while giving a seminar in their community. After the seminar, the Murrays introduced themselves and invited me to their home for dinner. Ted had long been a supporter of Heifer International. Being a dairy farmer (and raised on a farm during the Great Depression), he, of all people, knew what one cow could do for a family. I visited with the Murrays and found out what their concerns and values were. Ted wanted to see that his family was cared for first, and then he wanted to help Heifer help others, as heifers had helped his family. After talking with him about his wishes and listening to his concerns, I was able to answer Mr. Murray's questions and provide him with the tools he needed to put his mind at ease. With the guidance of his attorney, Ted was able to put his estate in order.

A few weeks after meeting with the Murrays, I was visiting with donors half a continent away when I received a call from Adel telling me that Ted had passed away. I was deeply saddened by the news. In the short time I had known them, I felt very close to the Murrays, especially meeting them during this tragic time in their life. I offered my condolences and thanked Adel for taking the time to personally track me down. Adel said that it was important that she tell me what our visit had meant to her. She said that after our visit, Ted was the happiest she had seen him since the onset of his illness. He was happy because he was at peace. He knew that he had taken care of his family, and made provisions for families in parts of the world he would never know.

It is never too early to get your estate in order. There is no age limit on preparing for your family's future. By preparing a will, you gain peace of mind knowing your family is secure; including Heifer Foundation in your estate plan shows your will for peace of another kind-peace on earth, goodwill toward men.