What does it say that my first blog would be about a funeral?
I was sitting on the bench listening to the people sharing and was struck by two things:
First, one of the family members talked about going through the things of the dearly departed and I’m thinking, “yikes, I’d better go clean out my desk!” This particular person, the one who died, was following a daily reading plan and her marker had been left in 1 Corinthians 13 — the place she would have been on the reading plan the day before she died. Not a bad place to end — certainly a great place for the rest of us to start.
Second, such great things were said about this life-long believer in Jesus Christ. Such nice things were expressed and it made me realize that those who speak at a time like this do not necessarily speak their own words. They are speaking the words of the one who died. They are speaking the life of the one who died. We decide what will be said about us when that time comes by how we treat others, by how we live.
Perhaps we should pay more attention to what we leave behind.
7 Responses to “What We Leave Behind”
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.
March 9th, 2005 at 11:03 am
This post has been removed by a blog administrator.
March 9th, 2005 at 11:33 am
What a great way to start my day…positive thoughts from RDW!
PR
March 9th, 2005 at 11:50 am
You are so right. Yesterday, I too was thinking about the lovely christian woman that has now gone home. I was remembering that she was one of my children’s earliest bible teachers. I also remembered that she was so encouraging to them. In our box of family memoribilia is a sweet note written to my daughter after she had been baptized. It was so sweet and touching that I saved it.
A simple act of thoughtful kindness left behind. We need to be reminded that a simple act of kindness can provide years of encouragement. Janet
March 9th, 2005 at 11:59 am
Very thoughtful post! I randomly surfed in but wanted to tell you it made me think!
Best Regards from New England
March 13th, 2005 at 11:59 pm
This is my first contribution to this blog. Incidentally, just before I started posting I spilled some cool-aid on the carpet which I cleaned up a moment ago which might be a good metaphor for what one does not want to leave behind - no stains - that is.
For a life lived no matter how short or long the hope of leaving no impression behind is impossible. Being so reminded one ought to be more conscentious regarding the impression he or she is creating in the eyes of both God and man.
Ebere
March 14th, 2005 at 12:00 am
This is my first contribution to this blog. Incidentally, just before I started posting I spilled some cool-aid on the carpet which I cleaned up a moment ago which might be a good metaphor for what one does not want to leave behind - no stains - that is.
For a life lived no matter how short or long the hope of leaving no impression behind is impossible. Being so reminded one ought to be more conscentious regarding the impression he or she is creating in the eyes of both God and man.
Ebere
January 26th, 2006 at 2:06 pm
Seriously, how do you RATE getting all these comments your first time out of the chute???
Randy, I have been blessed to know you over the years. To play ball together and to shoot the wind together. This year though you have truly become my friend and I am very grateful for that. The work you do for our Lord is important and I love that you do it with wisdom, determination, perseverance, and humor.
You are a good man, my friend. I can’t wait to see you guys sometime.