Yesterday, I watched my friend - a young man, in his early twenties, mourn the loss of his father. His dad was a great man, respected in his community, devoted to his family, and admired by those who knew him. But what struck me most was not his list of accomplishments or the stories people shared about him. What struck me was the strength I saw in my friend as he grieved.
Though his heart was heavy, he stood as a pillar of comfort and support for the rest of his family. He was able to carry them, even while carrying his own sorrow. And as I reflected on it, I realized: he was only able to do this because of the investment his parents had made in him.
We live in a world that often measures success by what we accumulate… money, possessions, achievements, recognition. But the truth is, none of these things last. What truly endures is the way we treat people. I heard it said that people hardly remember what you did for them but they almost never forget how you made them feel.
When Jesus taught His disciples, He reminded them:
“Store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.” (Matthew 6:20)
Treasures in heaven are not bank accounts or trophies… They are the lives we touch, the people we nurture, and the love we give away. My friend’s father had invested deeply in his children and in those of us who cared enough to listen. He taught them (us) faith, resilience, and compassion. He modelled what it means to lead a family with grace. And now, even in death, that investment continues to yield fruit.
Here's my thoughts…
Legacy is not about leaving behind monuments; it’s about leaving behind people who embody your values.
The Apostle Paul put it this way when he wrote to Timothy: “And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable people who will also be qualified to teach others.” (2 Timothy 2:2)
Paul understood that true legacy multiplies. It’s not only what you teach, it’s how what you teach lives on in others. My friend’s father entrusted values and faith to his son, and now, in a time of crisis, those seeds are blossoming.
Watching my friend, I realized that grief and legacy walk hand in hand. Death is painful, but a strong legacy softens the blow. We cry, but we also remember. We mourn, but we also stand a little taller because of the shoulders we are standing on.
This experience left me asking myself: What am I investing in the people around me?
Am I so caught up in my own world, my to-do lists and my goals that I forget to spend time with those I love? Am I more focused on what I leave to people (money, possessions) than on what I leave in people (values, faith, love)?
We are called to be a people that empowers:
Parents invest in their children not only by providing but by being present.
Friends invest in each other by showing up, listening, and encouraging.
Churches invest in communities by teaching, equipping, and serving.
Each moment of kindness, each word of encouragement, each lesson shared is a deposit into someone’s life. These investments compound. They outlive us. They shape generations.
My friend reminded me that inheritance is more than wealth. In fact, the greatest inheritance is not financial at all. Proverbs 13:22 says, “A good man leaves an inheritance to his children’s children.”
That inheritance is wisdom, courage, faith, and compassion. The kind of riches that cannot be stolen or devalued.
When my friend stood strong in the middle of his grief, it was clear he had inherited far more than property or possessions. He had inherited a spiritual and emotional wealth that now allows him to carry others. That is the kind of inheritance we should all strive to leave.
As I watched my friend honor his father through his own strength, I was reminded that life is about more than what we get, it’s about what we give.
One day, people will gather to remember us. They will not remember how busy we were, how many things we owned, or how high we climbed. They will remember how we loved, how we invested in others, and how we shaped the lives around us.
My friend’s father is gone, but his life continues to bear fruit through the son who now stands as a pillar for his family. That is the beauty of investment. That is the power of legacy.
This week, be intentional about investing in someone. Listen deeply. Encourage sincerely. Teach generously. Love sacrificially.
Because the legacy you build today will become the strength someone leans on tomorrow.
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