Legacies and Regrets

          Have you ever wondered what people will say about you at your funeral? Obviously, most funeral eulogies are complimentary and tell of good things, sweet memories and such that greeting cards are made of. But if everyone spoke the TRUTH about you, what would they say?
          Are you living your life to be a blessing, to make an impact for good and not evil or bad, to leave an honorable legacy for those you love? If not, you should. If only one person can say My life is better because of Leola (or John, Mary, Henry, Sharon, etc), then you have done well.
          What must it be like to live a life with no regrets? I’ve heard that said – I want to live and die with no regrets – I’ve even said that….on many occasions. The older I get, the more I realize that this is an impossible notion. The average person will always have regrets – the words spoken or unspoken, that broken relationship, the unfulfilled dream, and the list could go on and on.
          The older I get, the more the thought of dying invades my thoughts. Sometimes it is a niggling, persistent bother, sometimes it’s like a foreboding of impending disaster, or sometimes it’s like a pleasant journey I will embark on.
           As a Christian, I have confidence that heaven is my destiny, and that thought fills me with wonder and joy. I’m just not ready to make that journey.

Praying For Our Family

         When my children were younger and my life (mostly my marriage) was so messed up, I spent a great amount of time in prayer.  You know that saying, “You’ll never know Jesus is all you need until Jesus is all you have.”  I didn’t coin that phrase, but I should have, because there were many, many, many dark days when it was only my faith that kept me going.
         In my prayer time, I would cry out to God to HELP me, to help us. God has always been so real to me, such an integral part of my life and it is this relationship that I wanted my children to have. My plea to God was, “I just want my kids to know You, to love You and serve You, to be used by You, God. Please, please God, that’s all I want you to do for my kids.”
         God not only heard that prayer of mine - young, frazzled, broken and bruised young mother that I was -  He answered those prayers. Today my five grown, adult children all know the Lord and three daughters are married to credentialed ministers, and actively involved in ministry.
         Now I have over twenty grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren. Several months ago, I asked God in prayer about my grandchildren. “What about my grandchildren, God? I want grandchildren to feel called into ministry.”  And the same God that heard and answered those long ago prayers, heard my cry.
         Two nights ago I got to hear my grandson, Nathanael, preach. He feels called into the ministry. My heart is proud, and humbled. Thank you, Jesus! My granddaughter, Vanessa, feels called to work in youth ministry and has been doing that for some time now. Thank you, Jesus! As time progresses, my heart and soul are expectant of others to feel that call. The greatest gift I can give You, Lord, is my life and the lives of those who are on earth as direct result of me, from the lineage I begot.
          As you pray for your loved ones, I have this encouragement: GOD IS FAITHFUL! You may not see the results of your prayers right away, but be assured, God is at work!