Family and Friends: The Recipe for a Legacy

We are all mortals but we strive to live to leave something so we might be remembered. Today I have seen so many memories shared, and by so doing a legacy has been assured. Because my father-in-law lived in many places his influence has been felt in numerous states,  Vietnam and Germany. Many will remember him by name but most of the world will simply benefit from his lifetime of goodness. They won’t know whom to thank and I’m sure he is OK with that.

How do you honor such a life?  Today his daughters worked together to share poignant memories that highlighted his life of service.  His middle daughter reviewed literally thousands of pictures to come up with a proper sampling to share in a video presentation. His eldest daughter went through music that his youngest daughter had found so that the selected music would match their father’s spirit and personality. But none of us had the technical skills and software to quickly prepare the video. We also had the dilemma of how to display it.  
We thought we had the first problem solved. Earlier in the day a neighbor, less than a block away, agreed to take the photos and mix the music. We promised to get him the photos and music by 11 a.m. When it was almost 3 we took him the data. We confirmed the start time of 6 p.m. He didn’t know if it could be done. The rendering might take too long.

With faith we moved forward. The youngest daughter, who was trying to celebrate her 42nd birthday, volunteered a 42” monitor so we could play the slideshow. While we were waiting we hooked up the laptop to the television to make sure it was working and no video came through. She had left and we had no manual or a remote. But with the help of my son we made the right connections and got it to work. We still needed a finished product to display. At 4 p.m. we received the text. It was done. Mark, I still owe you for the iTunes.  
Nigel is wearing white
Far away, two other international friends keep me smiling. Twenty years ago my father-in-law gifted his Army jacket to a then young boy from Ipswich, England. Nigel has gone on to create wonderful music, act on the stage and has a gig as a DJ. Last night he wore that jacket in Carleton’s honor whilst DJing at that London club. While we were hustling and bustling he was remembering and extending the legacy. Thank you, Nigel.

Another photo that made the slideshow fills my heart. Hannah lived with us as an exchange student for a year. She went to church with Carleton. She loved him and he loved her. Seeing them together cements a memory that I can cherish as long as I live.  We love you Hannah and we love you Carleton.

As far as legacies go, these simple examples convey to me the promise of immorality.

Comments

Post a Comment

Thank you for keeping your comments positive and helpful..

Popular posts from this blog

Merry Christmas 2013

Image
Today I thank my mother and father for their goodness, kindness and example that I hope to emulate through my years. I thank my brother Paul for his leadership. As the eldest of numerous siblings he has paved the way for us all to set goals and achieve them. My sister Kathy has always stood for that which is right.  Her virtuous living and stalwart life keeps us steady and grounded. Joanne has kept our family fun and imbued us with continued traditions.  Thank you Jody. Diane has blessed us all with the example of continual hope.  Her courage in the face of trials is a gift I remember on this Christmas Day. Elaine will give her support to anyone at any time and for any need.  I am not even sure she asks why.  Thank you for that unconditional love. Richard will get into the grind and solve any problem as quickly as it arises.  He shows me the value of not waiting and rueing but just getting in and doing it. My brother Robert, the second of t...
Read more

Starting in the Corners

Image
My mom with two of my children As parents we watch our children learn and grow. As infants they depend on us for almost everything they need. We feed, clothe, protect and teach them all that we can so that they can enjoy a rich and full life.  We tend to recall those years with incredible fondness.  Curiously that fondness seems to grow as the years go by. In those early days and first few years we mark and celebrate the milestones.  That first smile, even if it was just gas, imprints in our mind's eye.  We celebrate or mourn those first steps depending on whether we were there to see them.  We blissfully enjoy the renewed rest as they finally sleep through the night.  And what parent doesn't rejoice at the moment a child can serve herself at a buffet? Through all of these milestone moments our children gradually become the people they will be.  But development is never even nor perfect.  There are always flaws and mistakes. But as parents...
Read more

His Peace

Image
After telling His disciples that he would die and leave them, Jesus said:  “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” Can you imagine the fear they must have felt upon receiving the news that the Messiah was going to leave? As a people they had waited for this Messiah for millennia for a savior to bring them liberation. Instead He brought them salvation.  And while they had been taught what they needed to know His disciples did not fully understand. Thomas said he knew not the way to go where Jesus was going. Philip asked to see the Father as though he believed that would finally be enough knowledge and teaching to carry them through.  These disciples had accompanied Jesus throughout his three-year ministry. They had been witnesses to miracles, ministered to by angels, and they testified of Jesus’ divinity. Yet the unknown left them with the uneasiness of the unkno...
Read more