Leaving a Legacy
Right after Easter, my husband presided over the funeral of a wonderful woman who left an incredible legacy. She would have been 97 next month and loved others deeply all those years.
I was privileged to meet her eight years ago and have written a tribute of some lessons I learned from her.
Sitting in our Bible Study Fellowship classroom I was drawn in, almost holding my breath, each time she shared what God had shown her in the lesson that week. Where the rest of us read from the notes we had taken during the week, she would contemplate and then share from the depths of her heart what the Holy Spirit had taught her.
Being in her late eighties at this time, her voice was soft, so it forced you to quiet yourself and listen. Whatever she shared was a show stopper. Making you pause and think. Being the oldest member of the class and one of only a few black women she had experiences and perspectives on life quite different from most of us. Yet, the very same scripture passage that had penetrated her heart God was teaching us as well.
Lesson #1 Take time to sit at the knee of someone who is Spirit led and has walked places in life that you never have. Listen to the person who wants to pass on to you the value of learning from God’s Word which is intended for us all.
Be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to grow angry. James 1 :19
Lesson #2 Guard your heart because it is the wellspring of your life, because it is a treasure, because everything else depends on it. Do a heart check everyday and before every comment you make. “What is in your heart matters greatly.” This woman took time to see into the hearts of others. I want to live like that.
Above all else, guard your heart. — Proverbs 4:23
Lesson #3
Make time for important conversations, for we do not know the day the Lord plans to call us home. I was always so busy listening to this wise, wise woman that I never shared a part of my life and my heart that I think would have given her a very interesting perspective on our relationship.
Therefore encourage one another with these words. 1 Thessalonians 4:18
At church one Sunday she was sharing her thoughts about being moved to a retirement home.. She felt as if she had no great purpose anymore. I quickly disagreed. I said, "Maybe God is calling you to lead Bible study there?" “Well, how would I do that?” she inquired. My reply, "We will help you." Out of that exchange a twice a month devotional time at the retirement home was birthed. She opened us each week singing praise. Oh that woman could praise the Lord with her voice!
Lesson #4 We all have great value not matter our age or where we live.
For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. Ephesians 2:10
&
Lesson #5 Whatever you do, Praise the Lord. The life verse I would claim for my friend relates to her influence on my life is.
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. Colossians 3:16
Last year when she made a trip to the ER and her son called to let us know. We drove to the hospital and had one of the sweetest one on one times of fellowship, wondering if this would be our final chat. Out of the blue she looked at me and said, “You love foreigners.” My brow furrowed and I replied, “I hope I love everyone.” She was very weak that day or I would have dug more deeply in what was behind the comment.
Thinking back over our times together, she knew we have an adopted South Korean daughter, there was a Romanian couple living with us on one of her visits to our home and on a visit last summer she enjoyed sweet fellowship with a Nigerian couple that was spending the weekend from Charlottesville. This couple loved her so much, one night they went to the nursing home to try to find her and talk some more. On their way in they were sharing the gospel with a resident sitting outside. He was not happy with the Jesus encounter, complained to the management, and the entire retirement home facility and town homes were placed on lock down! My friend chuckled when she learned the cause of the lock down!
So…
Lesson #6 We are all foreigners.
For our citizenship is in heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, Philippians 3:20
The Song
"Legacy" Nicole Nordeman
