I spent yesterday at a memorial service for a dear woman I have known for many years. She was the kind of person who never saw herself as having any influence in the larger world. But as people shared about her life, you could hear how much she was an influence. She was a mentor to me without really knowing it. She encouraged me many times with positive words and told me more than once what a good job I was doing in my ministry life. You really need to hear those words when you work in ministry because there are not a lot of awards, cudos or job advancements. But when someone praises you, it means a great deal.
In addition to her words, her life spoke volumes. Her love for her family was the strongest I had ever seen. She supported her kids, grandkids, and great grandkids all along the way. She was always there for them and loved being surrounded by them. When her husband passed away unexpectedly 17 years ago, she had a hard time going on without him. But she did it for her family. She was taken too soon but is where she longed to be, reunited with her husband.
As I listened to people share about her life, I thought about how important our legacy is. What will people say about us? We won't know, but if we live a life for others - not just ourselves, we are leaving a legacy for those whose lives we touch. Goodbye Gayle, and thank you.
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