This morning when I awoke, I suddenly had my Dad on my mind. Most of you remember that my Dad went to be with the Lord this past October 28 in Columbia, SC. Today would have been my Dad’s 80th birthday. It dawned on me that this is why my Dad was on my mind, and of course I had the normal recollection of all the wonderful memories that surround my Dad and our family.
It also made me think about how I would be remembered when I’m gone. Would anyone notice? What difference does it make if I’m here today or not? It really makes you think seriously about the kind of life we’re leaving behind for those to follow in our footsteps.
Have you ever thought about how you would be remembered when you are gone? Many have, and their thoughts are interesting. Numerous surveys have been conducted, and there is not enough space here to list all the responses. But here are some. Be sure to read to the very end of the list…
“Maybe a bit bossy but one of the most caring and greatest people to be known.”
“Most talented and kind and friendly and the owner of a great personality.”
“As the world’s greatest crime fighting scuba diving astronaut.”
“I’d like to be remembered as being helpful, kind, caring, and honest.”
“I would like to be remembered with large numbers of giant statues and monuments.”
“As the man that I thought myself to be and hope others perceived me to be.”
“I would like to be remembered for my kindness and loyalty.”
“I’d like to be remembered for not being afraid to speak my mind.”
“I’d like to be remembered for my devotion to my children.”
“I’d like to be remembered as the greatest living human being…ever. I’m almost there.”
“I would like to be remembered for my honesty; for my willingness to stand up for the right.”
“I would like to be remembered for my strength of faith; and for being me.”
“I’d like to be remembered as someone who did their best in life and was a good family man.”
“My modesty is part of what makes me so amazingly and fantastically great.”
“I would like to be remembered as the discoverer of eternal youth.”
“As a useful contributor to my society and as a good son, father, husband.”
“As someone who left the world slightly better off than when she arrived.”
“As a good father, brother, husband, and friend, and a man of great faith.”
“As someone people could always count on, in word and deed.”
“And be remembered for eternity like my hero, Beethoven.”
Maybe you don’t see yourself in any of these responses, so let’s look at another person – Abraham Lincoln.
Carl Sandburg, Abraham Lincoln’s major biographer, commenting on what he thought would be an appropriate “monument” to the memory of President Abraham Lincoln, wrote:
“Today we may say, perhaps, that the well-assured and most enduring memorial to Lincoln is invisibly there – today, tomorrow, and for as long a time yet to come. It is there in the hearts of lovers of liberty, men and women – this country has always had them in crisis – men and women who understand that wherever there is freedom there have been those who fought, toiled, and sacrificed for it.”
What Carl Sandburg had come to believe was that the best- and most- lasting monument to Lincoln was not a statue of marble or stone, but a monument that replicated Lincoln’s devotion to liberty and freedom – an invisible monument lived out in the lives of men and women who shared Lincoln’s love for freedom. Sandburg, quoting Lincoln at the death of a colleague and friend from Illinois, said:
“Let him have the marble monument, along with the well-assured and more enduring one in the hearts of those who love liberty, unselfishly, for all men.”
Lincoln preferred invisibility over popularity; anonymity over fame. As a public servant, those goals were hard to achieve. Lincoln did not embrace recognition for his achievements. Of all the responses from earlier, Lincoln might have deferred. Or, maybe he would have chosen the valedictory of St. Paul, from 2 Timothy 4:7-8 = “I fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day.”
How do you want to be remembered? Are you doing your best to live that way right now?
Like the song says: “Oh, may all who come behind us, find us faithful!”