Obituaries

My mother has a unique given name. She is named for my grandfather with a twist to make it feminine. Her name is Ernestine. You see, it is quite unique. You would think with this name that identity confusion would be the last thing she would have to worry about. Well, it is not. For years there has been a lady that lived in a community several miles away that not only had my mom’s given name, but also her married name. They apparently used the same doctor and have had mail sent to the wrong Ernestine. This has created some confusion and inconvenience over the years.

Well, Ernestine Dye passed away. Not my mother, but the other one. Her name showed up in the obituaries and on the nearby radio station. Some calls were made from acquaintances that knew my mom and wanted to know what had happened to her.
My mom emailed her boys to assure us that she was still kicking. This of course, pleased us. But this got me thinking – what if my name was in the obituaries? What would it say? What kind of legacy would I have left?

A lesson for me that God impresses on all in Scripture – be prepared. Eternity is only a breath away or a lack of. Be friendly. Serve God. Forgive. Repent. Think of others first. This will leave a legacy that God will be proud of.

Sid