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.

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