What Really Matters?
As I sat through the funeral of my wife’s father noticing who was there, what was said and focusing on eternal thoughts I made a few observations on what really matters. As I put these thoughts down it is not the same for everyone and these are certainly my opinions.
When you go to a funeral unless you have out lived your close friends and family they will be in attendance. It really is a picture of who you had impact and your family legacy. Funerals are very seldom at a good time in our busy society, usually in your home town but not where your friends are located and therefore create a framework of who will come? We all envision a church full of hundreds of people celebrating our life & hopefully celebrating our death knowing we will live on eternally in heaven with God our maker. I have only been to two funerals where the church was full. My father who had almost 1000 in attendance and my childhood best friend who died at 33 and shocked the small community and hundreds turned out. So back to the question I have posed… In the end what matters?
I think what really matters is a couple things, but most important is Legacy. You will have legacy in three ways 1) Family through your children 2) Family of Choice (friends) who you have impacted 3) People you have served and helped changed their lives. These are the three groups of people who will show up at your funeral. So if your life is self centered it definitely will limit your impact on “your” world. Your world is the three groups mentioned above and can provide a hugely fulfilling life if you choose. It really comes down to serving others. You ultimately will serve you family, you will serve your friends and you will serve others. What does serve really mean? In the basic thought it means loving, deferring, being available, putting their needs above yours, sacrificing time & money so others can succeed. The pay off for this is HUGE! It brings happiness, joy, fulfillment and creates LEGACY! Is your family going to come to your funeral because they loved you or because they have too. Will you have any friends show up, and will there be any people who come to your funeral and say “ I know you have not met me, but your mother… your father changed my life.” Something to consider it is never to late to change your ways or improve your game and start creating a life that matters. Start filling in the dash between the day you were born and the day you day with meaningful actions. In the end what matters is LEGACY!
