I attended the funeral of a sweet woman from my church this past week. She was an amazing lady. Her funeral was a celebration of her spirit and her love for others, but especially her love for God. I didn’t know her well, but even with the few times I’d been with her in meetings, she made a huge impression.
I think Gail would have been so happy that her funeral was centered around her love for Christ and how this made her the amazing woman she was instead of all that she did to be a good person. After it, I couldn’t help wondering how my life would be remembered. But even more than that is how I would want to be remembered. What would I want others to know about my life?
What Will Others Remember About Me?
That’s a question we all should consider at varying times in our lives. What are my priorities? My guiding principles? Did I love well? Did I make a difference for the better?
What has become the most important question I ask is if my life reflects Jesus and His love. After a life of being told I wasn’t good enough at anything, I will admit that proving myself has been a thought process I have had pretty regularly. I usually “knew” that there wasn’t any way that I would ever be anything important as far as the world was concerned. But the fact that I “knew” this about myself tells me that the thought has been on my mind too often. It’s not what I want to be thinking. I don’t want my thoughts to be on me. I want it to be focused on Him.
Playing the Background
Through conversations with my sons, the Bible studies I’ve done and really stepping back and asking God what He wants me to do in a day by being still and listening, I’ve come to realize, more fully, the truth that my life is meaningless if God is not the center of and the guiding force in my life. I want to be in the background even if I’m in the center of the attention at any given moment.
If you’re confused by what I mean, this is where the statement comes from. My youngest is a huge fan of the Christian rapper, Lecrae. One of his songs is a favorite of mine. It’s called “Background”. I love the lyrics and the sentiment behind the words. Here are just a few that speak to what I am trying to say here:
“And my ways ain’t pure if I don’t live according to Your Word
I can’t endure this life without Your wisdom being heard
So word, to every dancer for a pop star
‘Cause we all play the background, but mine’s a Rockstar”
“So let me fall back, stop giving my suggestions
‘Cause when I follow my obsessions, I end up confessing
That I’m not that impressive, matter of fact
I’m who I are, a trail of stardust leading to the Superstar”
“I’m in control of nothing, follow You at any cost
Some call it sovereign will, all I know is You the boss
Man, I’m so at ease, I’m so content
I’ll play the background, like it’s an instrument”
Even though the grammar is questionable (he’s a rapper – it’s got to rhyme at all costs, I guess), the meaning in the lyrics is what I want my life to reflect. When others look at my life, I hope they see Jesus reflected above all else. I hope anything I happen to succeed in or anything I write will point others to Him.
And following Him only makes me a better person. To live by His principles keeps my eyes focused on Him instead of myself. I used to tell the one I loved that my biggest prayer for him was that he would be totally sold out to God because I knew if that was how he lived his life, then everything else would fall into place. That is what living through God’s love will do for your life.
~ Joanna Lynn
