Legacy of Faith
“The greatest legacy one can pass on to one’s children and grandchildren is not money or other material things accumulated in one’s life, but rather a legacy of character and faith.”
My husband’s grandmother passed away this Tuesday, 30 November, in her sleep at a local community hospital. She was 97 years old and she leaves behind 5 sons and 5 daughters, my mother-in-law being one of them and 23 grandchildren and 19 great grandchildren. My husband and I attended the wake last night. There was an air of calmness and all of us were filled with a sense of peace and awe. 3 eulogies were respectively given by her youngest son, my father-in-law and the eldest granddaughter. The common sentiment was that she was a woman of faith. She prayed ceaselessly for all her children. She only had one year of formal education and yet, taught herself how to read Chinese. Her youngest son recounted that he would hear her reading her Chinese bible softly while running her fingers along each word. He also shared that she would always tell her children that she wasn’t hungry and would be the last to eat as times were hard for them in those days. Her granddaughter shared that Grandma would always check on her and the other grandchildren to ensure that they attended church and that their individual faith walk is strong. My father-in-law shared that he converted from Taoism to Christianity because of her love and her persistent encouragement to share her faith with him.
I only knew Grandma in the later years of her life. She succumbed to dementia a few years after I married my husband so I never really knew the amazing woman who was spoken of with such love and admiration. There were times in the recent years that she had forgotten who I was and I also had to explain to her who my children were. I knew that she adored all her great grandchildren as she often played simple card games and did arts and craft activities with them. I recalled one occasion where my two daughters played a simple jigsaw puzzle game with her and she kept praising them for being able to solve the puzzle quickly.
Due to the Covid-19 restrictions, we did not visit her as often as we would like to. She also spent most of this year in the hospital. Her caregivers, my uncle and aunt, took care of her for over 23 years and more than 2/3 of that time, she was deteriorating due to her dementia. My husband and I were truly moved and touched when our aunt shared about how she longed to hear her name being called by Grandma as Grandma had forgotten her name these past few years. She prayed for strength and perseverance as caring for Grandma was not easy. God answered her prayer on my aunt’s birthday this April when Grandma spontaneously called out her name as my aunt walked towards her. It was the confirmation she needed that God heard her prayers and that Grandma still remembered who she was. Our aunt felt peace since that day.
Often, we hold people in high regard due to their successes and accomplishments in life. We often forget or neglect to recognise the simple acts of faith and love which truly signifies what a successful and fulfilled life looks like. Grandma was a simple, uneducated woman. Yet, her legacy of faith has shaped and moulded her sons and daughters, their children and their children’s children to live strong, faith filled lives, creating positive ripple effects in the lives of people around them.
The purpose of my post today is to encourage each of you to keep doing the good deeds that you do. You may be feeling discouraged and demotivated because you do not see the fruits of your labour now. Take heart that the seeds of your labour will eventually grow into trees of testimonies of your life. If you feel that no one appreciates or recognises your toils and suffering now, be comforted that God knows what you’re going through and He will meet your every need. Even if you are not a believer, know that your efforts in taking care of your elderly parent or ill child will be rewarded in the later years. Reflect on the legacy that you want to leave behind. What do you want your eulogy to be?
My hope for each of you is that as we wind down this year, you will be able to spend time with your loved ones, creating last memories of love and joy, to last for the years to come.
“The things you do for yourself are gone when you are gone, but the things you do for others remain as your legacy.”
-Unknown