Legacy

I wrote this poem shortly after by father passed away. Nearly 400 people attended his funeral. One of the things that struck me was what people said - the things they wished to remember, to honour him for, were all strikingly similar. They were about character and nothing else.

On the day you are gone, they will not celebrate the things that you celebrate today.

They will not care much if you were rich or poor. Instead, they will tell stories of how you were generous and showed hospitality.

They will not think about whether you were beautiful or ugly. Instead, they will reflect on how you were confident, kind, and faithful.

They may talk about how you were healthy or sick, but it will only be to demonstrate how you were brave, happy, and quick to laugh.

Strangely, no glory will be given to you because you were accomplished, educated, or influential. They may celebrate your work for it's own merit, but of you they will instead praise your patience, selflessness, humility, and integrity.

Old or young, what will stand out was simply that you loved life and loved others.

They will remember that you died, but you will have a legacy only because they celebrate how you lived.