Posts Tagged legacy

Tuesday, November 22, 2011

Last week I wrote a blog about not finishing strong. I used Paterno and DeLaughter as examples of men who achieved greatness only to stumble before reaching the finish line. It was by choice that they stumbled. And that is what most people will remember.

This past weekend, John and I attended the memorial service of our friend and former associate pastor in Oklahoma. I don’t recall ever leaving a funeral service feeling like I did this one. I have been to beautiful services, some we laughed more than we cried, others we cried without laughter and some we were just in shock to be there because of the timing of the death. Regardless, I hate funerals. I selfishly want to keep all my family and friends with me forever.

But listening to the testimonies of this man’s life both convicted and inspired me. We laughed and we cried and we celebrated a strong finish. I left wanting to be more. Do more. Love more. So did John. I hope this service is life-changing and my legacy grows stronger and more impactful. Even in his death, he is ministering to me.

This is his Bible. This beautiful, worn out Bible is the foundation for Pastor Herb's love for all people.

This is not a tribute to Pastor Herb Hull, even though he is worthy. His legacy and the impact he had on thousands and thousands of lives speaks a greater tribute than any words I could ever type out. And his legacy was summed up consistently and continuously with each speaker and condolence written, “He loved people.”

Do you know how hard it is to love all people? Not just the loveable ones, but all of them? If we are honest with ourselves, we will admit it is not an easy challenge. Sometimes, even in our own families, it can be difficult. And it feels near impossible to be faithful in thinking more of others than ourselves. If we are honest. But Pastor Herb did it. So we know that it can be done.

Of course, Christ did it. But often times we dismiss that with a wave of the hand and an attitude of “But He is Christ, He was perfect. I’m not perfect so I can’t be expected to always love and serve others.” But here is an example of an imperfect man that loved others and served people his entire life.

These tattered pages are an amazing legacy Pastor Herb left his loved ones. Proverbs 20:7 says "The righteous man leads a blameless life; blessed are his children after him."

 The older I get the more I realize how much I need God’s Word every day. Opening, reading, applying scripture daily is where I will create the legacy I want to leave for my children and grandchildren. Devouring God’s Word is the very foundation for a strong finish in my life.

Keeping God’s Word hidden in my heart is how I can live a congruent life. Pastor Herb’s three sons are of the same opinion that their dad was the same man at home behind closed doors as he was behind the pulpit. That is quite a testimony. Congruency in our lives creates a strong finish.

(2 Timothy 3:16-17) All scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.

As I said last week, I don’t want to live my whole life loving and serving only to fall short in the end. I want to finish the race God has called me too, strong and charactered. Spending time in scripture will be my foundation to a strong finish. Just as it was for Pastor Herb.

It is not my New Year’s resolution, because I usually only last until the 4th or 5th of January on those. It is my commitment. I’m not going to keep cramming in my Bible study time in the carpool lines at school or the last minutes before I fall asleep exhausted at night. My time with God and studying His Word is going to be priority in my days. Not the left-over, need-to-get-done time.

And through that I know God will help me in my desire to be more. Do more. Love more.

 His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’ (Matthew 25:21)

Monday, September 5, 2011

Happy Labor Day! Today is the start of something I wanted to incorporate into my blog each week - a highlight of an amazing Mother. Believe me, there are many out there to choose from, and I know I will never run out of subjects. My wish is that each Monday, you can grab a cup of coffee and rest for 2 or 3 minutes while you meet a new Mother much like yourself each week.

I had a couple of ladies in mind to kick this off, one being the Mother that made me conceive this idea in the first place. But as life does what it does so well – happen – I didn’t get the information exchange in time. Sickness overtook our household, conquering now 4 of the 6 of us, and I found myself out of commission longer than I have been in years.

During my sickness, a significant date came and passed for me. August 31, 2011. It is the 4 year anniversary of my Grandma’s passing. I had planned to blog a tribute to her that day, but I was too sick to get out of bed. As I said before, recovery has been slow and I was upset that I was unable to pull together the information on the Mom for this week. Now I think it may have worked out the way it was supposed too.

I can’t think of a more appropriate way to kick off Monday’s with Mom than to highlight my Grandma.

This is Grandma in her 60's. We were still playing one on one basketball until she was about 73. She was an All-County Guard in high school, in the late 1930's.

 I was 11 years old and living with my grandparents, when my Grandpa suddenly died. They had been married for 41 years when he passed at the age of 58. I asked Grandma what she thought when she saw Grandpa for the first time. She said, “I thought he was cute. And a smart-aleck.” She always had a twinkle in her eye when she talked about their early years.

Then she said, “I thought, ‘I’ll show you. I’ll just marry you!’” And she did.  I made her tell me the story of their elopement hundreds of times. I am sure they had their fights, because all couples do, but their marriage was strong and they treated each other with love and respect. While I lived with them, I watched both of them do little, nice things for the other. They were small acts of kindness, but they were big. I was young, but I remember that part well. I’m thankful I do. It has made my own marriage better.

Grandma worked very hard on her home and land. And she taught me to work beside her. But she always took time to play with me. She even taught me how to play poker and we used matchsticks to bet with. When I was in high school, we would get hedge apples from the bush across the street of our dead-end lane. We would line up the hedge apples like bowling pins and roll another at them. It was our own country-style bowling alley. That memory is as vivid to me as if it happened yesterday, instead of almost 30 years ago. She was never short on energy or creativity when she spent time with me. It makes me want to be better at both with my children.

Grandma loved my children. We were over 1,000 miles away by the time my only girl was added to my brood of boys. John and I didn’t have a name chosen for a girl when she came into the world, we were expecting more blue. When the doctor held up our little pink daughter, we both were speechless. We had to come up with a name, quick. I knew instantly that I had to name her after Grandma. So from May Belle, we had ourselves an Anabelle. Grandma cried when she was told. I can’t think of a better gift I could have given her to show her how much I loved and appreciated her.

Anabelle was 4 months old before we could make it back home to share her. This is the first time Grandma was able to hold her name-sake.

 One of Grandma’s favorite hobbies was crotcheting and quilting. She started me a hope chest when I was just 5 years old. And over the years she added towels and cloths trimmed in crotcheted lace, hand-sewn quilts, and pillow cases beautifully embroideried. In addition to the treasures of these items, she crotcheted baby booties, hats and jackets for my own children someday.

This picture was from Anabelle's baby dedication. She had a sweet white sundress, that went perfectly with the jacket, hat and booties her Great-Grandma had lovingly made for her decades before.

 Anabelle’s baby dedication was a very special day. We had 4 generations of women together for the first time, Anabelle, me, my Mom, and Grandma. It meant a great deal to all of us.

There are many pictures of us together through the years. Usually, I am sitting on her lap, even as an adult. We had a lot of fun together. I do love this picture, even though I am not sitting on her.

I hated living so many miles from her, and treasured the times I did get to see her. We talked almost every day on the phone, usually while I cleaned the breakfast dishes. Sometimes we only talked for 5 minutes, sometimes for over an hour. She was the best listener that I have ever had in my life. She began getting old after 85 years of age, and her health began to decline over the next couple of years. The Lord was so generous in allowing Grandma to celebrate Anabelle’s first birthday with us.

This was our last picture taken together. I know she didn't feel well physically, but I also know she loved celebrating Anabelle's first year of life.

 Just 5 short weeks later, at the age of 88, Grandma slipped quietly into the arms of her Savior. It has been 4 years now and there has not been a moment that has gone by that I have not missed her beyond description. I miss hearing her call me “Doll” and I miss at the end of every conversation, exchanging the words with her, “I love you the mostest.” I could gush on for infinite hours about all she did for me, how she didn’t miss a single basketball game my senior year or the long walks we ventured on. The stories would be endless.

I am humbled that the Lord has allowed Anabelle to possess Grandma’s spunk, strength, humor, sass and generous love. I cherish that. I am so grateful to God that He allowed Grandma to see all 4 of my children and to have her as long as I did. Everyday I still need her advice and encouragement, but I am committed to carrying on her legacy and teaching my children the values I learned from her. I can only hope my legacy is half as strong as hers.