Even if they don’t remember

What if they don’t remember what I did?

What if they don’t remember me?

What if I need a weekend to get over my weekend?

My tired is tired.

Mrs. Sweetie and I just finished up a weekend of Grandpa and Sweetie camp with our favorite granddaughters. Some people plan these things in advance. We started thinking about it about two hours before it started!

Truth be told, it was last minute because of a sick mama, but regardless of the circumstances, we had a six hour car ride, followed by three days of camping fun, followed by a six hour car ride.

The girls had that same experience, but at ages 3 and 6 their recovery time is a lot faster than ours.

We really did have a blast, but there was no “down time” except overnight. Swimming, crafting, grilling, s’mores-ing, reading, snuggling, laughing—it was quite the end-of-summer shindig. (And, yes, the six-year-old wanted Grandpa to explain the meaning of “shindig”).

We got them delivered back to their parents yesterday and our day today began with a funeral service for a long-time family friend.

As one of his adult grandchildren shared beautifully through her tears her memories of her Paw Paw, I wondered if my little ones will have any memory of this big weekend.

I have such wonderful memories of my grandparents, but none of the vivid memories are from when I was as young as my grandchildren are now.

It hit me that chances are good that this weekend, as well as the family vacation we took a little over a month ago, will not linger in detail in their memories when they are older.

It also occurred to me that if something were to happen to me in the near future, their memories of times with Grandpa will fade as well.

Those realizations are what prompted my first two questions today.

Whether it’s my grandchildren or anyone else whose life mine has intersected significantly (at least in MY mind), I wonder sometimes if anything I have done will be remembered.

And then I remember this: it is not nearly so important that they remember the things I have done as it is that they remember the kind of person I was.

If they don’t remember specific fun times but they remember that I was fun to be around, I consider that a win.

If they don’t remember my words of wisdom but they remember how loved and safe they felt when they were with me, I consider that a treasure.

If they want to treat people they way they saw me treat people, I consider that a legacy.

And if the way I lived my life as a follower of Jesus, who lived with a sense of amazement at the grace and mercy of God, helps them discover their own amazing journey with Jesus, I consider that my ultimate contribution to their lives.

Even if they don’t remember what I did, I will remember that I did what I could.

And that is my prayer for every person who reads these words.

Be amazing today, my friend.