I'm certain many of you have experienced the pain associated with the loss of loved ones. Death is all around us. It is part of the cycle of life. A dear friend (Ken) passed on yesterday after a battle with cancer and the loss moved me to write this. Each one of us will leave a legacy at the end of this life. In the "big picture" the possessions and $$ will mean little and can be gone in a flash. But what will matter are the memories that we leave behind. The memories that last will be a result of our moral and spiritual values and how we "handle" the things of this life. We cannot detach ourselves from this. It is involuntary. Our influence does and WILL leave an impression on others. What we can determine is the kind of legacy we will leave behind. Let us live each day in the reality that our lives are influencing others. May our words and actions be free of anger, bitterness, fear, doubt, greed, conceit and judgement. Instead let them be full of love, forgiveness, honesty, joy, humility, patience and peace. So what will you leave behind?
So timely...just so wise and timely. Since November I have lost 5 close friends and my momma. What a wake up call! I sat there at Ken's blog last night reading his words over and over again weeping uncontrollably. I had read them before but last night they came to life for me. How ironic, on the day my friend dies and his legacy of life and faith helped me when I needed it most. I heard what he was saying for the first time last night. It took me being in emotional turmoil to be willing to humble myself in order to receive what I needed to help me in the time of trouble. So the cycle was IQ, Wayne prayed, email read, news of Ken's death, Ken's blog, his words revived, turned to God, read His Word, slept well, life goes on...until the next time.
You are so correct, as usual, with your insight into we, as humans. Ken was an inspiration to all who knew him. Our legacy is something for which we are 100% responsible. We chose to live our lives the way we live them as mere people. Until we have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, our legacy is of our own making, and is imperfect, flawed, selfish, rude, angry, bitter, full of fear, doubt, greed, conceit and very judgmental. We have been offered a chance to reform our legacy and change what we leave behind. It is again, our choice to accept Jesus Christ or to reject him. Change your life and legacy forever, or continue on in the ways of the world.
Wayne, thank you for your words, and I thank God for our friend Ken.
What a tribute to your friend, Wayne. Tomorrow is not promised to any of us. At this time in my life I seem to be losing all but a handful of my family, not to mention friends. This serves as a reminder that we had better be ready when our Creator call our name. My prayers are with your friends family in this time of great sorrow. God Bless.