A Legacy

I had the privilege of attending a celebration funeral on Saturday. I know that sounds strange "a celebration funeral". It was. This man was amazing. A.M. passed away at 80 years old. He was part of the back bone of the church I grew up in. I can't imagine walking in the doors and not seeing him. He has been a part of my life for the last 25 years. I was not close to A.M. but he was always there.

The first thing you would notice about A.M. was his gigantic grin that was always on his face and his extreme love for people. He was a teacher and a track coach. He loved to help people reach their full potential. Many of the people that spoke at his funeral had been a part of his track team 30 or 40 years ago. The one thing they all remembered was his love and fairness. A.M. would celebrate everyone's personal best, even if that person didn't win an award.

The thing that struck me as I sat on the opposite side of the sanctuary, watching the family was his legacy. You take one look at his family, and our church, and you see it. You see his sons, with the same grin, love their children and are helping them be the best they can be. I am thankful that my oldest is good friends with one of A.M.'s grandchildren and Amanda benefits from A.M.'s legacy whenever she spends time with this family. One son is now the high school PE teacher and track coach, taking over for his father. I saw A.M.'s teaching and love first hand as his son, and teenage grandson would rock and walk my terminally ill nephew during church services so that my sister could sit through a service.

A.M. did not feel it necessary to preach at people, they closed the service with the words of the man who said "Preach the gospel, and when necessary, use words". A.M. was a man of few words but Christ's love shone through in the way he loved and treated every person around him.

So, I can't help but wonder. What is my legacy? Is it one of love and compassion for those around me like A.M.? I don't think that I am even remotely capable of loving to the extent that A.M. did, but I have had the privilege of having a wonderful example and I can strive to be like that.

Post by Heather