What will they say when I’m gone? Hopefully something better than, “She made great banana bread.” ~~
I’m writing my obituary.
Now, before you panic, let me assure you, I’m perfectly healthy. Well…as healthy as one can be in a 55+ community, where conversations about fiber and knee replacements are as common as discussions about grandkids. Let’s just say when we mention owning a “little black dress,” we’re probably talking about something with sleeves, elastic, and orthopedic sandals to match.
But I’ve been thinking lately. What would people say about me when I’m gone?
The Legacies That Stuck With Me
Obituaries are frequent in my neighborhood, but some stand out. One neighbor was a decorated collegiate swimmer who kept setting records well into his golden years. Another served in the Korean War and was awarded the “Ambassador for Peace” medal. One woman was remembered simply as someone who “had a talent for making a house a home.”
That one got me.
What will they say about me?
Maybe they’ll list my books. Mention the numerous countries I’ve visited. Possibly the ESL program I founded or my work with the American Red Cross. But none of those things matter if I’d done them for me. They matter only because I did them for Him.
More Than a Bucket List
Yes, I love to travel. But it wasn’t for Instagram likes. I’d hate to see those horrid 1970’s images of me in Gauchos (You know…those flowy skirt-pants you wore with chunky platform sandals? Okay, if you don’t know, we are from a different generation.)
The biggest reason I traveled was to spread the gospel of Jesus Christ. Even my fundraising work with the Red Cross was a mission field. I prayed with people who’d lost everything. I reminded them they weren’t alone, that hope still existed—even if it wore a red vest and carried coffee.
But you know what means the most?
The moment a Chinese woman bowed her head at my kitchen table and gave her life to Jesus. Or the hundreds of lives changed through ESL classes where language barriers fell and hope planted. Or the individuals who emailed or messaged me that my book touched their life enough that they turned their heart back to Jesus. That’s what I want to be remembered for. Not the accolades, but the obedience.
🎵 Click here to listen to the song that sums it all up
“When we all get to heaven, what a day of rejoicing that will be!”
When Jesus Makes Mud
If you’ve been around this blog for any length of time, you possibly know I’m slowly losing my sight. It’s a hard truth, but not without purpose. I take great comfort in John 9, where Jesus heals a man who had been blind from birth. Not because I pray for healing, but because of the lesson in this story. Jesus didn’t just speak the healing—He made mud with His spit and touched the man’s face.
Why?
Some say it echoes creation—God forming man from clay. Others think it was a tangible, compassionate touch the man could feel. Either way, the miracle didn’t begin with sight. It began with obedience.
Jesus told the man to go wash in the Pool of Siloam. He didn’t promise healing. He just gave a command. The man obeyed—and then he saw.
Faith That Walks Before It Sees
Later, when questioned, the man couldn’t explain everything. He just said, “The man they call Jesus.” That was enough—for now. His testimony would grow. So would his faith.
For me, that’s the legacy I want: a life marked by blind obedience. The kind that walks toward Jesus even when the road ahead is unclear. The kind that obeys not because the outcome is guaranteed, but because the One giving the command is trustworthy.
I don’t want to be remembered for what I did—I want to be remembered for who I followed. Blind obedience isn’t weakness. It’s worship. #LegacyOfFaith #ChristianBlog
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The Real Resume
I told my girls and now often tell my grandsons, “Do it right away, all the way, and with a happy heart.” That’s how I want to respond to my Savior. Immediately. Fully. Joyfully.
So yes, maybe I’ve written a few books. And sure, I’m known for “knowing somebody” (like a one-woman matchmaking agency. I introduced my niece to her husband, and I’ve got my eye on a nephew next). Let’s just say I enjoy connecting people—whether it’s new friends, authors needing a resource, future spouses, or readers with truth-filled fiction.
Because at the end of the day, legacies aren’t carved by accomplishments. They’re shaped in mustard-seed moments and simple acts of obedience that point back to Jesus.
And maybe that’s where you and I meet today.
What will your legacy be?
I’m not talking about the résumé version. I mean the real one. The one heaven sees.
Maybe today is the perfect time to pause and ask:
- Who is God asking me to love?
- Where is He nudging me to obey?
- What step of faith is in front of me, even if the road ahead looks blurry?
If this stirred something in you, I’d love to walk this journey together. You can subscribe to the blog for more stories of faith, obedience, and finding God’s fingerprints in unexpected places. Or maybe you know someone who needs a reminder that their legacy isn’t measured by what they achieve, but by Who they follow. Feel free to share this post with the little “share” icon below.
Whatever you do, let’s choose a life of blind obedience—together.
Heidi, your words are beautiful, your message so loving. I like that song because I think often of the day I will see Jesus and Jeanne. The Holy Spirit, the provider of nudges, does good work in you. Your reflection on mud is moving. Acceptance leads to grace.
I say to folks, “If God is everywhere, where are you?” Clearly we are in God. And at the same time the Holy Spirit fills our soul which is nothing short of the Biggest Hug. Thank You, All the Blest, Jim
“If God is everywhere, where are you?” Beautifully written, Jim. Thank you!