What kind of legacy?

This picutre is of us, Will's two brothers, their wives and kids, and Joyce (Will's mom). The picture is from Memorial Day, 2005, so Kaiden who was an infant is now pushing 3 and Jordan who was 9 is 12 now (I'm not even really sure my math is right here, but it's a best guess type thing....if I were a good aunt I would remember all their birthdays and send them cards, but ohhh well). Brendan and Deanna now have another baby girl named Emma Ruth.

Perhaps part of the reason people have children is pass on their legacy. We do leave footprints and thumbprints on everyone around us even when we are unaware and this is not limited to our biological families. In recent days, I have thought of the wonderful legacy that Will's grandma Jesse left. I have thought of the great many hours and days that mentors of mine spent with me. What amazing living witnesses these people have been to me! I'm so grateful.

I have been graced with so much. Will I pass on something to those that I meet: at the bowling alley, in the high school gym, at the convenience store, Harmon's IGA, Rural King, Los Amigos, city offices where I pay my water bill, the library, Sonic Drive In, Wal Mart, Fayette County Hospital, the Zone, the city park? What legacy am I leaving?

Becoming the Same Person All the Time

God does the work of transforming us from the inside out.
Psalm 16:7-9 (NRSV) "I bless the Lord who gives me counsel; in the night also my heart instructs me. I keep the Lord always before me; because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved. Therefore my heart is glad, and my soul rejoices; my body rests secure" Something that has been working on me recently (from Renovation of the Heart in Daily Practice) "The ideal is for the whole person to do only what the heart directs. Spiritual formation in Christ is the process leading to that ideal, and its result is love of God with all of our heart, soul, mind and strength, and love of neighbor as oneself. Each aspect or dimension of the person will be a source of weakness or strength to the whole person depending on the condition it is in. The condition it is in will depend on the heart. A person who is prepared and capable of responding to the situations of life in ways that are good and right is a person whose soul is in order, under the direction of a well-kept heart, in turn under the direction of God"

Servant Leader Award

Last Thursday, Will and I drove all the way to McPherson, KS. The campus of Central Christian College and the town of McPherson holds very dear memories for both of us. We met one another in bowling class during the inter-term of 1992. The drive seemed so long (with stops, it was 9 hours). On Friday morning, we went to Academic Convocation there. This year 2008-09 Central honored Will's (and mine!) grandfather as Servant Leader. It was an amazing time with a dozen or so members of the family that were able to come. Lawrence certainly deserves this award. He has followed Jesus for almost 80 years and he is a great example: humble, soft-spoken, unassuming, never seeking the applause of others, taking care of Phyllis since her stroke over ten years ago, and for surrogate fathering my husband for many years as his father was gone (teaching him how to use power tools, coaching his little league teams, loving him in a million other small everyday ways!!)

Here's to you grandpa!!! CHEERS!!!

A Quote from Thomas a Kempis

In the classic, The Imitation of Christ, he writes: "The person who wants to arrive at interiority and spirituality has to leave the crowd behind and spend some time with Jesus. Nobody's comfortable in public unless he's spent a good deal of time in the quiet of his home."