Opus Gloria

by | May 25, 2017 | Living Life

What do I want people to say about me when I die? This was not a question on the forefront of my mind all day, every day. Being 24-years-old at the time I never stopped to think about a question I considered to be morbid and a little depressing. I did not want to think about not being on the earth, not being with my husband, my family, or my friends. The question never occurred to me because I did not have in mind the legacy I wanted to leave once I entered eternity. When I was forced to come face-to-face with this question, the neurons in my brain went crazy. What legacy did I want to leave? What did I want people to remember me for? How did I want people to talk about me once I was gone? Question after question fired like bullets in my brain. This one truly stumped me.

After thinking for a few minutes, it was as if God placed the words there himself: self-worth. My whole life I found my identity in who others depicted me to be. I wanted to be known for my five national championships that I had won over a seven-year stretch. My identity was found in the wrong place for the majority of my life. But, I had peace on that Thursday morning. Peace that my mission in life would be to help others find their identity in the Lord.

So, how does this translate into how I want others to remember me when I die? Well, I want others to say “Casey was a woman who knew her self-worth was in the Lord. She made it her life mission to help others see this same truth for themselves.” Pretty powerful, huh? Thinking about this legacy I would leave one day gave me the opportunity to prioritize my life. Knowing and believing my identity is in the Lord and not earthly things changed my world. It turned everything I once desired completely around and pointed me towards the Lord and his love and grace.

Some might say thinking about this at such a young age is not the brightest idea out there. Now that I have thought about it, I would say they are wrong. Knowing this at such a young age pushes me to live like it daily. I want to daily point people to their identity in Christ. I want them to know their worth is found in the Lord. Technically, would it not be an advantage to know this earlier in my life and strive towards that goal every day? Think about it, we are not promised tomorrow. I am not guaranteed 50, 60, 70 years on this earth. I want to start working towards that legacy today. And you should, too.

Questions for Action and Reflection:

  1. What legacy are you going to leave?
  2. What do you want to be inscribed on your tombstone?
  3. How do you want others to remember you once you have passed?

 

 

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