Duane and I had the honor of attending the most incredible memorial service we have ever seen yesterday. Our son in laws mother passed into glory after after being diagnosed with cancer last month. For three hours we heard story after story about this amazing lady. Her legacy leaves a rippling effect far beyond the ten children she birthed. She poured her life out for her children and then for her grandchildren but she didn't stop there. She lived by the verse "Let the little children come" and as children came into her life she loved them and poured her life back into theirs. She served her family, she served her Awana children, she served the Chinese church here, and she served anyone and everyone that came across her path. She served.
As Duane and I looked around at the packed church with close to 400 people and standing room only we were in awe. All these people were here because her life touched theirs. Her small frame, maybe only 5ft tall, left a legacy that filled this church to the rim!
The entire drive home we talked about this service. Arlene wasn't anyone famous, she didn't live her life in the public forum but lived her life behind the scenes serving the Lord Jesus and serving others. She was welcomed into heaven and heard the Lord say, "Well done they good and faithful servant". 

Legacy....

It's a word that I chose last year to strive towards. I don't just want to live life I want to live a legacy life. Duane and I talked on the way home and wondered what our memorials would look like. Are we touching more lives than just our own family. Are we serving like we could be?
One of the most powerful quotes I heard yesterday was..
"You're not ready to live this life until you're ready to leave this life."
Am I living this life like I am ready to leave this life?
We have never walked away from a memorial service so amazed and inspired. I wish I had been blessed with more time to know this precious lady and learn from her. Heaven is rejoicing with her presence today and those here are encouraged and spurred on to live this life differently, to live a life of servanthood, to love unconditionally, to let our lives decrease so that His may increase, and we are reminded that we are to live a life the world views as backwards. The world says to strive to be greater but God says, the first will be last and the last will be first. I want to live backwards. I want to love hard and love all. I want to serve unconditionally. I want to live this life like I am ready to leave this life.❤