Legacy of the Least

What comes to mind when I say the word success?  Lots of money?  Big houses?  Marriage and kids?  Top of the ladder job status?  Owning the latest and greatest of everything?  Those are all things that this world would use to describe success.  If the world took a group of people and had them check the boxes of each of these they had, the would say the greatest and most successful is the one who checked the most boxes and had the most zeros in their net worth.  The lowest on the success list would be the one who checked the least.  

 

 It's been a year since my Aunt Sandy took her last breath here on earth and joined the Savior that she loved so much.  When it comes to checking the world's success boxes, she would not have checked even one.  Matter of fact, she would have been considered one of the least successful people in this world.  She only had the money she needed.  She never owned a home.  Her jobs were basic.  She never married.  The world saw her and did not esteem her.  They would consider her as one of the least.


But when you look closer, you will find that her true successes were greater than anything the world could applaud. So, let me tell you a bit about her, what I observed, and what those who interacted with her daily experienced.


Aunt Sandy was a simple person.  She loved her family deeply.  Most of her life if you found her relaxing, she would have a book in her hand.  She absolutely loved to read.   She shared that love of reading with her nieces and nephews so much so that several of them now say they have a love of reading because of her.  Most every time I was with her she mentioned those she was praying for or told me she was praying for me or my family.  She often would call or text to ask me to pray for a conversation she was hoping to have about Jesus with one of the staff members at her nursing home. 

 

Over the years she struggled with various health issues but a few years ago she was diagnosed with a type of Parkinson's that quickly took away her ability to walk and eventually her ability to talk.  Because of her health, she ended up moving to an assisted living facility and eventually to a nursing home.  In the world's eyes, she really had nothing to offer.  At times she even questioned how God could possibly use her as her health continued to decline.  


God allowed me to be there with her much of the time during the last few weeks as her health rapidly declined.  During that time I heard impactful comments about Sandy from staff member after staff member after staff member. I also heard from other residents.  Here are a few of the things they shared.

"Sandy is always kind to me."

"I love Sandy.  Sometimes even when I'm not assigned to clean her room, I still go in because I love being around her."

"When I first came to work here, Sandy was the first one to make me feel welcome."

"Even though toward the end Sandy was going down hill and couldn't talk much, just her presence made me feel happy. I will miss her so much."

"I love Sandy.  She never complains."

"I have worked many types of nursing... ER, surgery, hospitals, nursing homes, and more.  In all of my years of being a nurse, I have never had a patient like Sandy.  She was ALWAYS kind and she NEVER complained."

You see, her love for Jesus overflowed to those around her.  One of the last things she asked me to do was to order copies a booklet that shared the gospel.  She wanted to give one to each of the staff members.  Thirty of those books ended up in the hands of staff members; many who do not know Christ personally.  Even in the last couple weeks when she could no longer talk and in the end when she could no longer respond,  God was still using her.  As I sat there, God gave opportunity after opportunity to share little bits about Jesus with the staff as they came in and out other room.  Matter of fact, after she was to the point where we were wondering why God didn't just take her home, God gave opportunity to share the gospel with a couple more ladies.  God was using her life even when she could no longer do anything but breath.

 

She didn't have wealth or big houses or fame but she loved well.  She served others the best she could.  She loved her family. She loved her friends.  She loved others around her and she loved and served Jesus most of all.

 

Matthew 5 tells us, "But whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven."  Many people will have their legacy be the things of this world but her legacy, a legacy of the least, will be shown one day in heaven when God rewards her for her faithfulness to Him and all who came to know Christ through her gather together and worship God with her for eternity. 

 


 


 

 

 

 

 

 whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister;

27 And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant:

28 Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many. Matthew 20 26b-28

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