Remembering Her Legacy

Remember your leaders who taught you the word of God. Think of all the good that has come from their lives, and follow the example of their faith.

Hebrews 13:7

In the early part of the summer, my mother-in-law holds her annual garage sale. My sister-in-law and I join her every year to part with items from the past year—clothes that are now too small for our kids, toys that have been forgotten, and other household items that are no longer needed. The proceeds from the sale then fund our families’ vacation budgets for the summer.

This past year a woman we hadn’t seen in many years came through our sale. We spent a nice time visiting and chatting about our kids growing up, graduating from school, and getting jobs. It was a wonderful time of reminiscing and catching up. As she was about to leave, she paused, cocked her head to one side, and said to me, “You know, I just have to tell you, I still think about your sister Katrina so often.” She then went on to say how impactful Katrina’s life had been on her, how she still thinks of her regularly, and how she cherishes a book she received from my sister long ago. Tears sprang to my eyes, and she quietly hugged me. As she left, I felt comforted by her words and her remembrance of my sister who has been gone many years now.

Remembering those who’ve impacted our lives is so important, even if the person is no longer here. Let others know how their loved ones made an impact on you. It will encourage them to know that their loved one’s life mattered and that who they were and what they did made a difference in someone’s life. In doing so, we live out Scripture’s encouragement to remember our leaders who modeled goodness and faith. Let’s honor those, living and deceased, who’ve been examples of God’s love and kindness toward us.

—Kendra

— Today’s Act of Kindness —

Send a thank-you note to someone (or their loved ones) whose life had an impact on you.

From the book