What Legacy Will You Leave?

I attended a funeral this morning of a man who had been sick for several years. The last time that I saw him, he was in a wheelchair with a great big smile on his face. As a matter of fact, he was known for his big smile. He was the nephew of my aunt who is in a rehabilitative facility.

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He had been a helper and supporter of my aunt the entire time that she has needed additional care. Even though I had witnessed it for myself, I heard today about his helpful, friendly and supportive personality to anyone that he came in contact with since he was a child.

It was amazing to hear stories that people told about the impact that he made on their lives. One childhood friend told a story about how giving my aunt’s nephew was. One Christmas when every child on the block had received a brand new bicycle, the man said that his parents gave him his sister’s old bicycle.

He was devastated but his friend told him to bring the old bicycle to him. My aunt’s nephew took the bicycle apart, replaced the chain and the brakes, sanded and painted the bike until it looked better than the other children’s brand new bikes.

Now the man telling the story was in his 50s. He had tears in his eyes as he talked about how generous my aunt's nephew was to everyone he met. I thought about another man as he was speaking, because today would have been the birthday of my father-in-law. He was also a very generous and giving person who will always be missed.

What kind of a legacy are you leaving? Do you spend time with others unselfishly? Do you support other people and participate in their joys and sorrows? Will people miss when you are no longer around?

Some people are making a mark in this world just by being helpful and supportive of other people. I was happy to have known this guy, and I was pleased that my impressions of him were shared by many other people.

Be careful of the legacy that you leave which is based on how you live your life.