…So carve your name on hearts and not on marble.
We can leave a legacy of love that others will remember because they loved us and were helped by us. We can make a lasting impression on others as if we are carving our name on hearts and not on marble.
This is a guest post by Beth Harris. She is a wife, mother, Bible study leader and volunteer editor for markalanwilliams.net.
In the past year, I’ve attended two Celebration of Life ceremonies to remember dearly loved individuals from my church. Each service was God honoring, uplifting and touching. I was especially moved by loving tributes given by grown children for parents, as well as kind comments made by relatives and friends.
I couldn’t help but ask myself, how will my children, husband, family and friends remember me? I thought about the kind of legacy I want to leave.
It’s important to me that family and friends remember me as a committed Christian. I want them to be able to say that I loved Jesus and them well. I hope they say that I was a woman of integrity and someone who helped others. Of course, it’s only by the grace and power of God that people will remember me well.
Somber occasions to remember others give us a chance to examine our own lives as well. These gatherings remind us of the reality that one day others will gather to remember us. This self-reflection is helpful, because we can make necessary changes to ensure we leave a good legacy.
It is better to go to a house of mourning than to go to a house of feasting, for death is the destiny of everyone; the living should take this to heart. Ecclesiastes 7:2 (NIV)
People will remember us fondly, if we have been intentional about loving and helping them. This is the essence of carving our name on hearts and not just marble.
Our main focus should be to love the Lord and others.
John 13:34 says, “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.” (NIV)
Luke 10:27 says, “He answered, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’; and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.'” (NIV)
Leaving a good legacy doesn’t happen without self-reflection and planning.
Psalm 90:12 says, “Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.” (NIV)
Let us examine our ways and test them, and let us return to the Lord.” (Lamentations 3:40 NIV)
We can ask the Lord for the wisdom to know how fleeting life is and for His help to leave a good legacy. We can ask our loved ones and friends for their honest and kind feedback.
In addition to the wisdom of the Bible, another great resource and guide is the Don’t Miss Your Life eBook. This book offers steps to live a life that people will remember.
Leaving a good legacy begins when we understand that God created us to live life with a purpose.
Knowing our purpose and core values can help us to create a life vision and set goals. Then, we can monitor our goals to ensure we stay on track.
Have you thought about how you want people to remember you?
Please click here if you would like to receive Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior.
Your thoughts are welcome! You can leave a comment below.
Help Spread the Word! If you found this article helpful, we’d love for you to share it with others on social media or otherwise. This will help get the Word in front of more people who need biblical guidance. Thanks for your help!
Those who loved you and were helped by you will remember you. So carve your name on hearts and not on marble. –Charles Spurgeon | CLICK TO TWEET
Additional resources about related subjects on this site:
NOTE: Facebook is random. Email is reliable. Subscribe via email and you won’t miss any of my articles, podcasts or videos. You’ll also get my eBook: 10 Prayers to Unlock Heaven on Earth