August 16, 2024 - Good Afternoon! It's Friday, August 16.
My devotional is a little late going out today. I attended a memorial service this morning for Jane Morrison. Miss Jane was the matriarch of her fine family, a cherished member of my church, and a pillar of the community. She was one of those from the "greatest generation". There are few of them left. It was an honor to honor her this morning.
As the service began, I thought about something that Miss Jane would do each time I saw her, and I had the blessing of seeing her at least once each month as my senior adult choir sang at her nursing home. When our group would prepare to leave, Jane would reach out to shake my hand, and in her hand would be a five-dollar bill. It always reminded me of what some people do when they place a bill in the palm of the maitre d' at a fancy restaurant, when they don't want to have to wait for a table. She would always say, "have a hamburger on me."
At her memorial, when the pastor had concluded his remarks, he gave members from the crowd the opportunity to share a memory of Miss Jane. One of the first who spoke said, "every time I saw her, she'd put some money in my hand!". And as she said it, I saw smiles and nods all across the crowd. I always felt special, because I thought that I was the only one. But it looked like Miss Jane gave that kind gesture to countless others. That didn't make me feel any less special. But it certainly made me think more highly of her.
And in the end, isn't that what each of us wants our legacy to be? We want to be remembered as someone who took the time to value those around us. Someone who always paused in the middle of a busy life to completely focus on the person in front of them. Someone who made others feel special.
A wonderful legacy. A life well-lived. A blessing.
Meet you back here on Monday,
Bro. David
damathis@fbccenter.org
