I’m writing something different today: the eulogy I want to to be read at my funeral. No, I’m not planning on going to “my great reward” anytime soon, but I am reflecting on what I want my legacy to be. It does not fully describe the life I am living now but it describes the life I desire to live. It is a description of “the me that I want to be.” This is what I would want a friend to read at my funeral:
I met Lisa at Sams Club. You know how she loved to shop and she loved to talk! Oh my Lord, she would never be quiet. I was a cashier and she liked to come to my aisle to checkout. We would chat as I scanned her items.
She loved to give gifts, so one day she brought me a beautifully wrapped bar of soap. It touched my heart that a customer who hardly knew me would bring me a present. That’s the kind of person that Lisa was. She loved to make people feel special by giving them a gifts. It gave her an excuse to shop!
And oh my, you know she loved to shop. It was her spiritual gift.
I found Lisa’s address in our customer database and I sent her a Christmas card. Soon afterward, we became Facebook Friends. When I had surgery, she prayed for me. She also texted me to check up on my afterward. Lisa was good at that. You know how organized she was! When someone told her of an upcoming event, she would make note of it and follow up with them later.
She showed people she cared. Because she really did. And her thoughtfulness made people feel special.
Lisa and I continued to talk when we would see each other. I was always happy to see her smiling, joyful face. Soon, we gave each other big hugs. You know sometimes Lisa didn’t like to hug, but she would hug me. Our friendship continued to blossom and we told each other “I love you” when we said goodbye.
After a few years of just seeing each other at the store, I asked Lisa to have lunch with me. There was a joy and a grace on her life that I wanted to know more about. When many of my other customers were impatient and grumpy, Lisa was always cheerful and kind. Even when she had to wait for a long time, she was nice to me.
She was different. She was a breath of fresh air.
When I had lunch with Lisa, I found out that the inner Lisa looked a lot different than the outer! Although Lisa looked like she had it all together, I learned that Lisa struggled, just like me. She was open and honest about her life. But she did not dwell in self-pity, even when she was sick for five years with migraines.
She had an enduring trust in the goodness of God and her hope resided in the promise of eternal life.
She was stable. She was consistent. And her desire was to be like Jesus and to be with Jesus.
When I was with Lisa, I felt peace. And joy. One day she explained to me how to have the peace and joy that she carried. And now I, too, am a follower of Jesus. Lisa did not desert me once I was saved – she also taught me how to be a disciple of Jesus.
Together, we pursued the goal of Christlikeness.
In short, Lisa was a complex, fascinating, quirky woman. She was fun to be around and very silly. She found joy in the little things, like coffee and birds and puppies. She loved her family.
Most importantly, she loved God. Because she loved God, she loved His children.
Although we miss her joyful presence, she is so ecstatic now to be at the feet of Jesus, content to worship Him forever. We will miss her, but she is in her forever home.
