Tom Hall – Sept. 19, 1928 – June 1, 2010

Today I had the honor to speak at a memorial service for a hero of mine.  He happened to be my Grandfather as well.  I only had about 20 minutes to speak, which was not near long enough to say all the great things that could have been said about him. He was one of the godliest men I have ever known!  Here are a few of the comments I made this morning:

When this life ends, will it have really mattered?

That is a question that a friend of mine posted on Facebook yesterday.  I am not sure if it was because she was thinking about my Grandfather or not, but it drew several replies from people.  I suppose this question has been asked for thousands of years and by every generation.  The truth is, we probably have all asked this question in one way or another.

If you were to answer that question out loud, what would you say? I wonder (knowing what he now knows) how my grandfather would answer that question?

We all sit here today and have memories of my Grandfather.  We all have stories we could tell.  Why is that?  Because he left a mark on you.  He left a legacy.  He was a brick layer – He built buildings – Even churches

But that is not what I am talking about.  You see, those buildings will all fall apart.  In fact, some have probably already been torn down.  They do not last.  A name on a building is not a legacy.  It means very little to anyone that ever walks into a building named after someone.

What I am talking about is something so much deeper.  It is the thing that leaves a mark on someone so that they never forget who you are.  But it even went deeper than that for my grandfather.  Sure, we will NEVER forget him.  If you met him and knew him at all, you will remember him.  He was unique.

I am talking about something so different though.  You see, my grandfather was:
loving
kind
honest
compassionate

There is a lot more that we could say.  But he was all those things.  We will remember him that way.  But even in all of those qualities, there was still something more.  You see, he may have been all of those, but I watched him, and he did not just obtain all those qualities.  Those qualities grew in him his whole life.  He may have been loving, but he was growing in his ability to love.  (as well as his kindness, honesty and compassion)

He left me that type of legacy.  But he did more than that.  He left more than just him becoming… he left me the REASON he was becoming those things.

Jesus.

Grandpa was becoming more loving, compassionate, and kind because he was allowing Jesus to transform his life every day.  There was never a time that I talked to Grandpa that he did not mention the Lord. Really.  He loved God so much. It was evident over his life as he served at the Nursing home and in the Gideons and at his church.  But it was really obvious just in who he was.  He loved the Lord!

He left a legacy, not just of who he was, but of the power of God that was transforming him in his life.

Ps 71:17-18
Since my youth, O God, you have taught me, and to this day I declare your marvelous deeds. Even when I am old and gray, do not forsake me, O God, till I declare your power to the next generation, your might to all who are to come.

That is why everyone who I have talked to about my grandfather has never spoken an ill word about him. That does not mean he did not sin or have a bad day.  Just ask Grandma or his kids.  I am sure that Grandpa had his moments…  But as he grew older he became even more loving because of his relationship with Jesus.

He loved people so much.  He rarely talked about himself. But he often talked about reaching people with the love of Jesus.  He talked about reaching the next generation and how change was needed to do that.

He was that way because of God.  Because of Jesus.

Some men want to leave a mark for people that they will never meet.  People that quite honestly, will never care about who they were. Buildings and businesses will never leave a mark on a person.  They do not leave legacies.  Your relationships with people will.

Grandpa loved people.  He marked me.  I know he marked you that are here as well.  We will never forget him.  What a legacy he has left.

The greatest legacy that anyone could leave another person is helping them realize that they matter to God.  They are important to Him.  That God desires to have a relationship with each and every person and that relationship is made possible through the death of his Son Jesus Christ.  That was done for you and for me.  It was done so that a way could be made to a right relationship with God.  Once that relationship is established, God will begin to change you, to make you into the person He wants you to be.  Just like He did Grandpa.

If my Grandfather was here and able to speak, the last words that he would want to say would be that God loves you, and made a way for you to come to Him through His Son Jesus.

After today, I will never get to speak to this same group of people.  We are here to honor my grandfather.  So, to honor him, I would say to you.  God loves you.  Jesus died for you.  And that us the only thing that will change you forever.  Just like it did my grandfather.  That is how he was able to leave such a legacy.