A Legacy Worth Leaving
by Kristin Hodge
On Tuesday, June 22, 2021, my grandfather, Poppy, quit breathing.
This is the same man who woke up 3AM to journal and work out.
The same man who had little, but found ways to give a lot.
The same man who labored for hours in his mid 80’s laying concrete for his local church.
The same man who clung desperately to Jesus and desired for others to come to know His God.
He just quit breathing...and just like that, his life on earth was done.
Like Genesis describes Abraham, he breathed his last and died at a good old age, an old man and full of years; and he was gathered to his people.
Over the last 10 years, I let my life get too busy, allowing too much time slip between visits with my Poppy. In the same way that I neglected quality time with him, I see the same happening to my parents. I see how my parent’s grandchildren are losing the adoration and admiration they once had for them. I want to shake them and tell them how deeply they will one day regret allowing the gaps of time to get longer and longer between each visit with their Loli and Pop. I want to tell them that the things they think matter so much day to day just don’t!
Family is so important.
Make time, prioritize, love deeply!
I wish I had when I was younger.
Poppy passed on a Tuesday, we buried him on a Saturday with a beautiful military honor. The days leading up were sad, and funny, and most of all reflective. My sister and I stayed up late the night before his funeral recalling our Poppy stories, crying, and trying to find joy in the fact that he had the largest welcome committee to greet him in Heaven.
During these precious hours reminiscing and reflecting, we asked hard questions:
Why don't we spend more time together?
When I die what will people remember about my life?
What am I doing with the little time I have here?
How can we use our one life to make a difference?
We volleyed these questions, along with many more like them, back and forth.
We cried, we questioned, we hugged, and we honestly asked,
“How did his life just waste away to nothing?”
It didn’t.
He’s gone, but he’s still impacting us. Still nudging us to put family first. Still reminding us that there is more to life than a schedule full of baseball games, ministry programs, vacations, things, and daily burdens.
The best way we can honor him is to live out our life inspiring others to care for those around them like he would have.
He lived a long life! And he laid down a mantle that someone had to be bold enough to pick up. During his funeral, I felt so strongly that I was the one that would need to pick it up.
A mantle is, as defined by Google Dictionary, an important role or responsibility that passes from one person to another.
Poppy joyfully and obediently carried the mantle in our family. He showed the importance of pursuing Jesus and connecting everyone we interact with to Jesus as well. He was happy with the little that he had, and gave abundantly from it. He spent time with his family and always beamed with pride.
This is his legacy. What will be mine?
In Genesis 26, God speaks to Isaac after Abraham, his father, passed:
I will make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and will give them all these lands and through your offspring all nations on earth will be blessed because Abraham obeyed me and did everything I required of him, keeping my commands, my decrees, and my instructions.
Like Poppy, Abraham’s obedience led to blessings for generations and generations. I can only hope that my obedience can do the same.
Take time today to ask yourself, what mantle is my family bearing?
What legacy are we leaving?
Do I need to pick up the mantle?
Decide that you will be the one who continues leading generations in faithful obedience and following after the Lord’s lead.
Whether or not we have earthly grandparents leading a life worth living, we have a Father in Heaven who shows us the way.
He is the way…
John 14:6
You carried the mantle well, Poppy.
You ran fast with it.
I hope that I too can make this life worth something by following your lead.
I honor you, I love you, and I can’t wait to see you again.
