remembering

Over the summer I attended two memorial services within 2 weeks of each other, one for my husband’s 83-year-old grandfather, the other for my 91-year-old grandmother.  These two people were so dear to their families and friends and left behind beautiful legacies.  As I listened to the words spoken at their memorial services, I heard recurring themes of love.  They knew how to love, they loved others deeply, they taught their children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren what love is.  I don’t know if I can think of a better tribute than to be known and remembered as someone who loves well. 

During all the traveling to and from the services, I thought quite often about the words spoken at memorial services.  I know I’m not the only one who leaves a funeral wondering what will be said about me when I’m gone.  I sincerely hope that I am remembered for loving well.  And there’s more. 

In the midst of a recent conversation, my husband mentioned that we need to be sure we are allowing God to use us and the gifts He’s given us in the way He desires.  That comment came back to me as I was considering the mark I hope to leave on the world around me.  Yes, that’s it – to be able to look back over my life and have confidence that I did everything I could to use my gifts in the building of His Kingdom.

In the throes of everyday life I’ve found that it’s incredibly easy to lose sight of this.  It’s hard to see how my gifts can be used while I’m loading the dishwasher for the third time in a day, or digging through the laundry mountain for a tiny pair of clean socks.  Or when I’m dealing with a frustrating situation at work or struggling to keep my eyes open to finish an assignment for school.  But the truth is, God has gifted me for each of these situations.  He has placed me here, right where I am, for a purpose that only I can fulfill. 

I love these verses from Isaiah 51: “Listen to me, you who pursue righteousness, you who seek the Lord: look to the rock from which you were hewn, and to the quarry from which you were dug.”  Look to the rock from which you were hewn.  Does that hit you like it did me when I heard it read one Sunday morning?  The New Testament reading that went with it was a familiar one from Romans 12: “Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them.”  Put the two together, and it’s a beautiful picture of our Creator’s sovereign handiwork.  We are hewn in His image, “dug” from this covenantal family founded on a legacy of faith.  Using our gifts means we are living out of that legacy of faith, trusting that the God of grace will place us where we are needed. 

Sometimes we are required to make sacrifices to fully exercise our gifts the way God intends.
Sometimes we can get tripped up by the mundane activities we find ourselves doing day in and day out.
Sometimes we have to pass through waters, or walk through fire.
Sometimes we have to let go of what we think we want so God can show us our true desires. 

But there is great joy in following the path He forges for us, realizing His steadfast, loving, merciful presence as He goes before us and behind us.  It’s not always straight and smooth and carefree.  But He is with us.  And He knows what He’s doing with us.  He gave us gifts so that we would use them.  He places us in situations for which He has equipped us to be His hands, His feet, His voice, His light.

This is how I want to be remembered, for pursuing righteousness, for seeking the Lord, for looking to the rock from which I was hewn.  For allowing God to use the gifts He has given me for His honor and glory, as a uniquely placed instrument in the building of His Kingdom.  Yes, this is how I want to be remembered.  

Praise be to God for the grace that covers us daily, for His unfailing love and new mercies every morning, and for the hope we have in Him.