Be prepared. You don’t know what life will hand you.

Hi Mona,

Your last post, "Do you know what Life insurance you need?" That struck a chord with me.

I'm hoping I can share my experience and let your readers know something good can come out of something bad. But first, I can't share without letting you know what an amazing husband I married. Let's call him Chuks.

I was the last of three kids, and I had two older brothers who adored me. My middle brother was very social; hence, he would always have a group of friends come over to the house. Chuks happened to be one of those friends. I didn't think anything of it at the time; all I knew was he was a friend of my brother.

Fast forward to traveling to the United States, I happened to find myself in the same city as Chuks. He was very accommodating, being that big brother for me. We were just two years apart, but he literally thought he was my uncle or something ??. I guess it's because he saw how my brothers treated me. It honestly did not take too long for us to fall in love. He was my rock, and he truly helped me transition into this new land.

Telling my bro was the tough part; how was he going to take it, but surprisingly, he gave his blessings. He said if there was any of my friends I'll let you marry, it would be Chuks. I can't vouch for the others, he said. These words meant everything to me. Chuks and I were two opposites, but opposites attract, they say. We got married, and I knew I'd won a good one. God blessed us with two beautiful children.

I made Chuks become more focused and thoughtful. And he helped me become more spontaneous and enjoy life. Like the thoughtful guy he'd become, he got really involved in our finances, making sure everything was set up properly, including getting Life Insurance. We were truly in a happy place. We had college funds set up for the kids, we had vacations planned out, we were really organized with our money.

Chuks and his friends had a yearly tradition where they'll meet up and just catch up as boys, thinking about their old school days and just having fun. This year they were going to Atlanta. He was really looking forward to it, and I remember even picking out some shirts for him for the trip (My guy needs to look good ??).

Then the trip came; we dropped him off at the airport, he kissed us goodbye, gave the kids really tight hugs. It was a three-day trip. The first day went really great. I remember him calling me and letting me in on all the fun they had had and some of the silly stuff they had been up to. As always, it was a great laugh, and the most I could say was take care of yourself.

Day 2 of the trip was great; they had some BBQ and all, and they'd be leaving for the club later that night. He called me on the way to the club, looking all fly, putting on one of the shirts I sent him. He said he'd text me when they got to the club and wish me goodnight like always. Let's just say that text never came. I did send him a good night, but I fell asleep and did not get a chance to wait for his reply. Waking up in the middle of the night to 15 missed calls. I finally called back, and they said, Ma'am, you'll have to come down to Atlanta as your husband has been involved in a very serious accident.

The phone dropped from my hand. God forbid, an accident, are you sure you've the right person? At this time, I hang up trying to call his number; it rings and goes to voicemail. I call the number back. What happened? and they could not give me much info on the phone. The two friends I had their contact, the same thing, no answer. I had to find the next available flight. The longest flight I've ever been on. Got to the hospital, and my husband was not only in a terrible condition, he was dead ????????.

A truck driver had lost control and collided into their van. Three of them died on the spot, and four of them were severely injured. You know, these are stories you hear sometimes, and you be like, poor wife, poor family, I can only imagine what they are going through. Yet it was happening to me. Every time we think of the unforeseen, we think of it happening to others but not us. This incident changed my whole thought process: "NO ONE IS SPARED"; bad things truly do happen to good people.

It was during those darkest days that Aunty Lisa (That's how I call her), our insurance professional, became a beacon of hope. She reminded me of the provisions Chuks had made, ensuring that his love and care for us would endure even in his absence. The life insurance Chuks had arranged for covered the funeral costs, our bills, and the immediate expenses that seemed so daunting as we faced them without him. Aunty Lisa didn't stop there. She guided us through using the life insurance proceeds to secure our future – mental health

The loss of Chuks was a profound reminder of how unpredictable life can be. Yet, in the midst of our grief, we found a silver lining through the protection he had put in place. Life insurance became more than just a policy to us; it was Chuks' final act of love, ensuring that even in his absence, we would be cared for and our dreams could still be realized.

To anyone reading this, let our story be a testament to the importance of preparing for the unforeseen. Life insurance isn't just a financial safety net; it's an act of love and foresight. It ensures that the dreams you have for your loved ones can still come to fruition, even if you're not there to see them happen. It provides a buffer against the financial hardships that can accompany loss, allowing your family to focus on healing.

Chuks always said, "Be prepared. You don’t know what life will hand you." These words resonate more deeply with me now than ever before. I urge you not to wait until it's too late. Consider the security and peace of mind that life insurance can offer. Let it be your legacy of love and protection for your family, just as Chuks did for us.

In closing, I want to express my deepest gratitude to Mona for allowing me to share our story and to Aunty Lisa, whose expertise and empathy lit our path during those dark days. And to you, the reader, I hope our journey inspires you to take that step towards securing your family’s future. Remember, life is unpredictable, but how we prepare for those uncertainties can make all the difference.

Thanks for reading

From a Recovering widow