Wednesday, September 9, 2015

A Legacy Well Lived

What is a legacy?
What is ninety-one long years of legacy and love and beauty?
What if that life started out as a small-town conservative short Christian girl? What if that small girl fell in love with a good man and they remained married for almost 70 long and beautiful years?
What if he had his own small business and they didn't have a lot of money but they had so much love? What about when they stay in love through the ups and the downs and ninety-one years later that small town girl can look at you and say she doesn't remember a single fight?
Is that a legacy?
When they raise eight amazing children that change the world, is that a legacy? Two of them became missionaries, one is in fulltime ministry, others when onto love their children deeply. Creating a legacy of 33 grandchildren and even more great grandchildren.

A legacy doesn't have to change the world, and we never think of our legacy while we are alive and thriving and creating it under our feet. We don't think of that, no, instead we live vivaciously, love passionately and give beautifully.
We change lives one by one, moment by moment. And the world blinks and somehow it is a little different because of the way some lives just kiss the whole world.

Almost 70 years ago a man named Irvin swept a small town girl named Mabel off her feet and the love of a lifetime was lived. He owned a small business and they made it in this world. Together.
The legacy my grandparents left was one of immense love and one that must be followed after.

When my grandfather died a little over a year ago, I learned just how he changed his little community of Lancaster County. I learned how his one small life impacted so many lives in my giant family.
Over 100 lives, because of their love.

Yesterday, my grandma passed away peacefully in her sleep. How beautiful her reunion must be with her beloved husband now in Heaven.
Death doesn't hurt as much this late in life, we are all so joyfully that she is with her Savior and husband after a long faithful life.
I wonder sometimes, how death sometimes is so gentle in His ways, so giving.
If Death were personified, I think his job must be very hard, coming and stealing and inflicting pain upon unbeknownst hearts.
But times like this, his job must be so tender, to bring faithful people into the arms of their Savior.
So Grandma Miller, Grandpa Miller, we will miss you and our hearts will wait for the day we will be reunited, but enjoy the rest as you are given the full reward of your faithful life.

Thank you.


1 comment:

  1. Leah this is such a beautiful post. Thinking of you and your family though in this time after your Grandma's passing.

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