A Legacy Left Behind

In November of 2011, an older couple from my church said good-bye. The Witmers were moving out of state be to closer to their family. Since they had reached the age where they needed assistance, the decision was made, that they would leave their home of over 80 years to enjoy their last days on this earth being closer to their family.

They had been lifelong friends of my husband’s family. Also, they were much honored elders of our church, and everyone looked up to them. We recognized the Witmers at one of our church services. The words spoken about this couple brought tears to the entire congregation, those that knew them, along with those who didn’t. Our pastor shared stories about their life, what they had accomplished through the years with our community, their homestead and farm, the work they had done in and for our church and most importantly their faithfulness to God. We honored this couple and as we did, the tears rolled down my cheeks, thinking about how I wouldn’t see them next Sunday morning.

After church, there was an open house for folks to come and wish them well, and say their good-byes to a couple that shared their whole life in this little town. I have no idea how many people walked through those doors for there was too many to count. “What an honor,” I thought. “What a wonderful gift that this family has given to this community.”

It became my turn and I knew the tears would surely come again as I shared with them. I shared with them how much I would miss them and how I was so grateful for all their prayers over the years for my family and our salvation. I also told them, they have truly been a blessing to us all and have left quite the Godly Legacy behind for other Christian families to follow. Their love and faithfulness to the Lord stood out above anything else they ever did in their life. All of a sudden as I left our dear family I couldn’t help but hope and pray that I would be able to leave such a legacy behind just like this couple. I don’t want to be remembered so much for what I did in my life, as I would love to be remembered for my love to God, to my family, and for sharing the love of Jesus with others. That is the legacy I want to leave behind!

What do you want to be remembered for? What kind of legacy do you want to leave behind?