No One Left to Ask

January 6^th was my maternal grandmother’s (Grandma) birthday.  She would have been 118 this year, but she died at age 86.  January 8^th was my paternal grandmother’s (Nana) birthday.  She would have been 110 this year, and she did make it to 100.  I reminded my wife of their birthdays.  As I was telling her, I realized that when I’m gone no one will remember their birthdays.  Grandma lived in a cool little apartment one block from the ocean when I was little.  I kinda/sorta remember what it looked like.  Nana drove Volkswagen Bugs, owning two when I was a kid.  I tried to remember what color they were – I think one was light blue – when I realized there was no one left to ask.

My first reaction was sadness, followed quickly by the thought, “I’m getting old.”  It did start me thinking.  My daughters don’t remember my Grandma, although they do remember Nana.  When my daughters are gone, the memory of my grandmothers will pass from the earth.  This quotation is from the movie, Stand Up Guys: “… they say you die twice.  One time when you stop breathing the first time and a second time, a bit later on, when somebody says your name for the last time.”  Obviously not a theologically sound statement, but meaningful nonetheless.  One day each of us will be gone from this world.  One day after that, it may be weeks or it may be years, our name will be spoken for the last time. If we achieve some sort of fame, or leave lasting contributions to the world, our name may last for centuries, but that does not change the fact that we will leave this world.

You may not cure a disease, or write a poem that will be read hundreds of years from now, or serve in public office.   You may not have children or, if you do, they may not have children.  But you will leave a legacy.  There are legacies promised in the Bible.  Abraham was told by God, in Genesis 22:17, “Indeed I will greatly bless you, and I will greatly multiply your seed as the stars of the heavens and as the sand which is on the seashore; and your seed shall possess the gate of their enemies.”  While it is part of a much larger promise to David, 2 Samuel 7:16 contains a legacy that is significant for each of us: “Your house and your kingdom shall endure before Me forever; your throne shall be established forever.” 

These are promises of grand legacies that extend beyond the scope of what we expect or are promised.  However, believers have been commissioned to leave a legacy.  Jesus told us to make disciples.  Jesus told us to love God with everything we have, and to love our neighbors as we love ourselves.  I fail too often in fulfilling this legacy required of me.  My focus turns inward, and when it is outward it is primarily on my family.  Of course, I need to take care of my family, but I am called to love the world, and especially the unlovable.  I need to share and show the gospel to those I encounter, or I am failing. There is much talk about leaving the world a better place for the next generation.  We should be talking (and acting) about equipping the next generation for the better world than this.

My grandmothers’ earthly legacies won’t extend past another generation or so, yet their legacies are ultimately eternal.  They have now heard the words of Jesus cited in Matthew 25:21: “Well done, thou good and faithful servant.”