“There comes a point where we need to just stop pulling people out of the river. We need to go upstream to find out why they are falling in.”
– Archbishop Desmond Tutu
Every day, we see the heartbreaking GoFundMe pages. We hear about communities rallying, churches taking collections, and families scrambling for answers when a loved one dies without life insurance. The intentions are always pure, love, solidarity, and support, but the weight of financial strain doesn’t disappear just because people care.
This is the part of the river where we find ourselves pulling people out, doing damage control after the unthinkable has happened. And while it’s noble, it’s also exhausting, unpredictable, and unsustainable.
What if we went upstream?
The Problem Isn’t a Lack of Compassion, It’s a Lack of Preparation
Families are not falling apart because no one cares. They’re falling apart because they were never given the tools, or the encouragement, to prepare. Life insurance isn’t a luxury. It’s not just for the wealthy. It’s a foundational piece of protection, one that says: “I may not know what tomorrow holds, but I’m going to make sure you’re not left to struggle.”
When we talk about going upstream, we’re talking about helping families before they’re in crisis. We’re talking about normalizing conversations around financial preparedness. We’re talking about making sure that when someone dies, their family can focus on grief, not on how to pay the rent, keep the lights on, or cover funeral costs.
Upstream Thinking Starts With Us
Let’s be honest: no one likes to talk about life insurance. It’s uncomfortable. It forces us to think about mortality, finances, and hard choices. But ignoring the conversation doesn’t make the risk go away. It just means that when tragedy strikes, someone else is left holding the burden.
Instead of sharing a fundraising link after a funeral, what if we shared a policy application before it?
Instead of passing the hat at church, what if we helped someone sit down with an advisor when they got their first job, got married, or had kids?
Upstream thinking requires a shift, from reactive compassion to proactive love.
The Real Gift of Life Insurance
Life insurance isn’t just about money. It’s about dignity. It’s about making sure children stay in the same schools, spouses stay in the same homes, and dreams don’t die along with the person who made them possible.
When you go upstream, you’re not just protecting assets. You’re preserving futures.
You’re telling your family: “I thought of you. I planned for you. I love you enough to prepare for even the hardest moments.”
Conclusion
We’ll always need people who are willing to jump in and pull others out of the river. But we’ll save more lives, and save more families, from heartache if we start further upstream.
Let’s stop normalizing financial chaos after death. Let’s normalize protection, preparation, and peace of mind.
Let’s go upstream, because love isn’t just what we feel. It’s what we do before the storm comes. Love is a verb.
For more information regarding life insurance and it’s many benefits, purchase a copy of my book ‘More Than Just A Payout’ at the link below amazon.com/author/watto61
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