For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you. And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart. (Jeremiah 29:11-13)

Sunday, June 28, 2009

How Will You Be Remembered?

Recently we have bid farewell to a lot of American legends and everyone is talking about these remarkable people and the life they led. They are getting just as much publicity in death as they did in life. Enough to continue selling tabloids, magazines, music, to crash the Internet and to cause controversy. We remember them for the good and the bad but it won't be that way in Heaven. God isn't going to care about how many movies they made, how many records they sold, etc. God is going to want to know what they did for Him. Everyone will stand before God. Some will stand before the Lord and hear Him say, "Welcome home my good and faithful servant." And others will get a glimpse of the Lord and hear Him say, "Depart from me. I never knew you" and be cast into the lake of fire.

How will you be remembered when it is time for someone to deliver your eulogy or write up your obituary? Will there be enough goodness in your life that people will be able to speak highly of you or will people be at a loss for words? Will you find favor in the sight of the Lord when you stand before Him?

Every morning on the way to work I say a little prayer. I remember all my friends and family that are going thru difficult times, bad health, financial woes, etc. I seek the Lord's forgiveness for sins I may have committed, people I may have offended, and I ask the Lord to bring someone into my life that I might witness to. I ask God to fill my words with love and kindness and to give me more love and compassion to those who need it. I am usually a friend to the outcast or the underdog because everyone needs someone.

I am a very educated person and most introduce me as that smart girl. But I tell people that is not what I want my legacy to be. I want people to know how much I loved the Lord and how I tried to further the kingdom. I want people to know how I have cried a river of tears because I felt helpless to do anything else. I want them to know how much I loved music and how it was a part of me thru singing and dancing. I want them to remember the many cards and letters I sent out with the hopes of encouraging others. Or how I allowed a life filled with adversity to bring glory to the Lord because I knew that in the end it would be worth it all.

How will you be remembered? Are you going to be remembered by the local tavern owner who knew you came in every night and got wasted? Are you going to be remembered by family who knew how badly you beat them, mistreated them, and caused them to suffer? Will you be remembered as a dishonest business person, a person who acquired social status, money or fame at the expense of others? What will people have to say about you when you're gone?

Will you be remembered for your acts of charity? Will you be remembered as the one who took in the poor and broken-hearted? Will you be remembered as the person who made a difference in someone's life when they had no reason to live?

I hope that friends and family remember me for the fun and laughter I brought to most occasions. I hope they remember me for my love of singing.  Music seemed to be in every fiber of my being and  I shared that music with them. I want to be remembered as the girl who had every reason to quit but didn't because she still knew the Lord had a purpose for her.

When I die I would love to have the words of Erma Bombeck written on my epitaph:

When I stand before God at the end of my life, I would hope that I would not have a single talent left and could say, "I used everything you gave me."
So, if you can't take it with you when you go what will be your legacy when you leave this world? What will you leave behind?

5 comments:

  1. Oh, yes, Gigi! I agree with that epitaph, to have used to the full all that God has given and required of me. Then, to hear those awesome words...well done! What will be the thoughts of others? And what will I leave behind? Hmmm...I'm still working on that! Thanks for this wonderful reminder that I need to work on this! Blessings to you...Lynn

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  2. What a beautiful and moving post Gigi! So glad that I came across it and got a chance to learn more about you. I didn't realize you sing as well as dance - how wonderful!

    The words of Erma Bombeck are so touching and so true! Thank you for contributing this to the blog world.

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  3. Great post! Very very true... When you look at life with that perspective, God's perspective, it makes a lot of things that seem important now to lose their appeal. If you really take a step back and look at some of the goals that we esteem highly, they really are little more than vanity in the eyes of God. Great post! :)

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  4. Just a moment ago I saw online that another celebrity died. Billy mays. He was the one who made the informercials of Oxi clean and Orange Glo.

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  5. Gigi love your beautiful, inspirational blog. You sing, dance, write...you are an inspiration to me. I love the wording of Erma Bombeck. It is so beautiful and touching. I hope to be remembered as "a strong, faithful, courageous person who never gave up on life and was an inspiration to others." Love Ya!

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