When I was young, on Memorial Day, all our families would gather at the cemetery and decorate the graves of loved ones who had passed. In fact, we often referred to it back then as Decoration Day.
I know some families still practice this tradition, but my family is scattered across the country making gathering at the cemetery impossible. So, we honor in our minds and hearts, rather than physically showing up.
I got to thinking about why we honored the dead in such a manner. I believe it was because those people we were honoring had touched our lives.
That made me think even deeper. Have I touched anyone’s life? How will I be remembered after I’m gone?
We touch peoples’ lives by the kindness and love we share with them. Sometimes there’s the natural closeness of a relative, the understanding you shared with a friend, or sometimes it’s the passing smile and kind word you offered a stranger. You left a mark that is not easily forgotten.
We accomplish this by sharing a part of ourselves with someone else. When you offer a shoulder to cry on, when you listen and not speak, when you pay for the next person’s order at Starbuck’s without telling them, you’ve left your mark. There are all kinds of ways of accomplishing this, but the common thread is the kindness we offered was done expecting nothing in return.
In this day and age, it seems odd to do anything for which we don’t expect something in return. Why do it if we don’t expect to get anything out of it? The answer is simple. We do it because we care about others. That’s what Jesus taught us to do. That’s why the parable of the Good Samaritan lies strongly in our hearts.
I have Myasthenia Gravis. Sometimes I’m grumpy. Sometimes I hurt. Sometimes I don’t feel like doing much. If I allow myself to stay in those moods, I will continue to spiral into worsening symptoms and probably depression. I don’t want that to happen and I certainly don’t want people to remember me in that way.
I want people to remember me for my kindness and my willingness to help others. I want people to remember my smile, not my frown. I want people to remember my sayings, laugh at my jokes, and how good it felt when I was around. That’s the legacy I want to leave. That’s the way I want people to remember me.
Yes, today is the day we honor those that have died and especially those who have sacrificed their lives to protect our great country. Today is also the day I start working a little harder on being kinder, being happier, and being a better friend. Today is a great day for me to work on the legacy I will leave.
Myasthenia Gravis affects my body. I can choose not to let it affect my attitude or the legacy I leave long after I am gone.
How about you?
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