Her name was Mary. Mary and her husband have been friends of the family for the past 30 or so years. Mary has always had a sweet spirit and a beaming smile. She dedicated her life, personally and professionally, to helping others. The love of the Lord shone through her eyes.
For the last several years, Mary has been battling cancer. It always bewilders me that this insidious disease strikes the most lovely of people. I tell myself that maybe it is because they can handle it with such grace that their lives become an inspiration to others as to how to live victoriously, regardless of the possible outcome.
Mary was such an inspiration. She passed away a few days ago at a relatively young age, and flew home to receive eternal love and reward. Family, friends, and acquaintances gathered together at the funeral home last night to reflect on and celebrate the life of a woman who touched us all in some way. There was a large crowd…a true testament to her contributions in this life. As I patiently waited in a very long, slow line moving towards where Mary lay, I became very reflective in my thoughts on life and how we live it, and the impact we make on others. I managed to maintain composure as I embraced her family and offered my condolences. But still, the thoughts raced through my mind. Except for these times when we must come face to face with the reality of death, how often do we think of the legacy we will leave behind when it is our time to go? While none of us want to think in a morbid way, or process thoughts of our own mortality and death, it still crosses the border into our minds at some point in life. I have lost loved ones and friends, and even though they are no longer here with us, their memory still lives vividly in my mind and heart. No matter who it is, and no matter what kind of life they have lived, somebody somewhere will always remember that person. The question is–how will YOU be remembered?
That thought was my companion all through the night last night. I wondered – when the time comes that I am lying in my casket, what thoughts and memories of me will be in the minds of those people I leave behind? The answer lies in the way we conduct ourselves while we are here. If we treat others as we should, and as we would like to be treated, we can believe that, in some way, our lives will positively affect those around us. If we show love, respect, compassion, and kindness, that is what the legacy of our lives will be as those we’ve known reflect on us. While I’ve always tried to be a kind-hearted, pleasant person, Mary has inspired me to be even better — to be the best me I can be. I will make extra efforts to speak more kindly, forgive more easily, and try to smile through it all. I want that to be my legacy.
