There are a few people in everyone’s life that leave an imprint on their memories. Oftentimes, we don’t even notice how much a person has impacted us until they aren’t there anymore. I knew a handful of amazing people who have left behind a legacy worth sharing, a legacy that I can only hope to leave behind someday.
Henry
Henry was the organist at Fluvanna Community Church when I was young. He also played the piano for my mom and her friend when they sang at nursing homes. I would occasionally go over to his house to listen to them practice, and my sister and I also sang with them (back when I could sing).
One day, when I was in high school, I came home to find my mom upset. She told me that Henry had passed away. Even though it had been a while since I had seen him, it hit me hard that I would never see him again. I went to his memorial service, where I listened to many, many people tell stories of how Henry had impacted their lives. I had had no idea of how much he had really done in his lifetime. Many people had loved him, and even more people saw his love for God over the years.
Dave
Dave and his wife, Louise, were my Sunday School teachers in fifth and sixth grades. Anyone in that class will remember that they were some of the best teachers at the time. Dave looked like Abraham Lincoln, and his sense of humor was unmatched. He and his wife were the best tag-team, and you will very rarely see a couple who are as deeply in love as them.
Dave passed away several years ago now. I remember being surprised and very sad when I heard the news. This wise man should have lived for so much longer, I thought. But I know that he is home with the Lord. Even today, I still hear people in church mention his name with fond memories, and when I think of him, I think of sword drills and Sunday School lessons that still remain unmatched.
Susie
I always thought it funny that a soup kitchen called St. Susans was run by three different women named Susan (among others, of course). One of these women was Susie Hooper, a beautiful soul who attended my church with her husband, Greg. She had a heart of gold and a sweet smile.
While I was in South Africa, I used my daily fifteen minutes of wifi one day to FaceTime my sister, who was out for breakfast with friends. As we chatted, she asked me if I had heard about Susie. She had passed away very unexpectedly during the night, which was when I was eating breakfast in Africa.
My fifteen minutes ran out before I could even process this news, and we were having a team meeting right after. I rarely cry out of sadness (it’s always been more of an expression of frustration for me), but I couldn’t help but cry right there in the corner of Kosie’s Place while my teammates were talking. Thankfully, I had very supportive teammates with me.
I wasn’t home in time to attend Susie’s memorial service, though I desperately wanted to be there. I do know, however, that it was full of people remembering the amazing woman of God that she was, and rejoicing that she was Home.
These people left a legacy, but how?
I remember thinking to myself shortly after Henry’s death, “I want people to remember me like this”. Even though it seems like a selfish thought, I don’t think it’s wrong to want to touch lives just by the way you live. I think that there are three simple (though not always easy) steps to becoming a person who makes an impact on those around them.
1. Love God
The biggest and most important thing you can do is to take your eyes off of yourself and focus them on God. All three of the wonderful people I have remembered above loved God with all their hearts.
Loving God isn’t just appreciating Him, it’s something you think, something you say, and something you do. Do I show my love for God in the way I speak? Do I declare my devotion to Him with my behaviors? God can hear my thoughts, and they affect my attitude, so are they pointed at Him?
2. Love People
When I die, people will remember that I was a Christian, and maybe even that I was a missionary, but if I do not live out my love for God by loving those around me, I will not be a successful Christian or missionary. If you truly love God, and you live like it, you will start reflecting Him in that you will love other people.
Loving people can be incredibly difficult sometimes. The Bible doesn’t tell us to choose who to love, or to only love your neighbor who is quiet or Christian or takes good care of their lawn. Maybe your neighbor is a murderer. Love him. Maybe she curses at her kids. Love her. God doesn’t give us a choice. He loves the world, so why shouldn’t we?
Please note that this doesn’t mean that we should support unbiblical beliefs, criminal activity, or anything else, but we should still see each person as a creation handmade by God, and we should treat them as such, even if we don’t see eye-to-eye.
3. Make Spirit-Filled Disciples
When you are filled with the Holy Spirit, which happens when you have a regular and active relationship with God, you are pouring it out wherever you go. If you are living out your love for God, and if you are actively and purposefully loving people, then you are very close to this final step.
What is a disciple? Someone who follows God. How can we make disciples? Teach people how to follow God! Wait, does this mean everyone is a teacher? The short answer is yes. Just like a parent teaches their child how to behave in public, we can teach young Christians what following God really looks like.
You can take new believers under your wing, become friends, support them in making the right decisions, and walk beside them when they are struggling. That’s what Jesus did, it’s what Peter and Paul did, and it’s what we are supposed to do also, according to the Great Commission. This could look different to everybody, but it would be hard to make an impact on someone’s life if you weren’t part of it.
What kind of legacy would you leave if you died today? How can you change the way you live to change lives around you?
