What Is Left

My paternal grandfather died July 14th, 2009 just five days short of his 90th birthday. I didn't shed any tears. How can you mourn the passing of someone you barely knew?

The whole world got to know the persona he put on display, but his own family were strangers.
The stage was his life. Everything revolved around his career.

My grandpa was someone famous. You have probably heard his voice and not even known it. Growing up, I only knew a sliver of his celebrity.

I found out more about him after he died than when he was living. How sad. I was cheated out of my grandfather by his own narcissism.

He had time to tell everyone else his stories, everyone that is but his own children and grandchildren.

And sadder still is the fact that he worked so hard to create a legacy with his voice, he ignored the creation of a legacy with his love. He left a legacy of neglect, which was passed down to my father, who in turn leaves it for me. But I refuse to embrace that legacy left to me.

When I leave this earth, I want my life to have meant something. I want it to have eternal value and leave a legacy of righteousness for my children and their children. I want my heart of compassion to be what others think of when they think of me after I am gone. No, I will not have an illustrious career such as my grandfather. I will not have a famous name and no glowing articles will be written upon my death. But I will leave something that cannot be forgotten with the passage of time.

"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you,"

I Peter 1:3-4