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While I’ve read a number of interesting articles this week, I’ll be taking a slightly different angle this time in Food for Thought. Instead of a list of various things that have interested, inspired or challenged me, I want to tell you a story of a lady whom I’ve never met.
Mandy Kelly blogged at Worshipful Living. I learned last week through some blogging groups that I’m a part of that she and her husband, and their two youngest children were killed in a house fire.
I’ve been learning a lot about Mandy this week, both from those who knew her and by spending time at her blog.
It’s my hope that you’ll be encouraged, as I have been, by her story and her words. I’ll link to her posts that were especially notable to me, in lieu of our regular Food for Thought links.
Mandy’s Story
Mandy wrote about struggling with infertility before she ever even met her husband. The man that she married was a widower with three young children, and she reveled in becoming a mother. She says that even before she knew that she would likely not bear children, God had placed adoption in her heart. On her blog, she wrote quite a lot about their journey through adoption. (She also talked about her experience with the adoption process in a Facebook video)
She frequently wrote about marriage, typically speaking specifically to wives. Her tone was always gentle and kind, yet bold.
I noticed on her blog that she often wrote posts in groups pertaining to a particular theme of Bible study. One series that really spoke to me was on friendship. She wrote about the importance of having both “Paul relationships” and “Timothy relationships”.
A Matter of Prayer
As I said above, Mandy, her husband, and their two youngest were killed in the fire. Their youngest child was only 10 months old, having been adopted when he was born. The two older children who survived have now lost their mother, father, and loving step-mother. Mandy’s mother-in-law, who was living with them, also survived, being hospitalized after the fire.
Please remember this family in your prayers.
What is Your Legacy?
The thought that has been going through my mind this week has been about the legacy that I will leave. And what am I doing now to build that legacy?
If I want to be remembered as loving and kind…am I pouring those things into the lives of those around me?
If I want to be remembered as faithful… am I standing in the truth of God’s word daily?
What would the people in my life say about me? How would I be remembered?
And that’s real Food for Thought, isn’t it?
Be blessed today, and live your legacy! Next time we’ll return to our list format with a variety of interesting topics.
What legacy do you hope to leave?
Oh my this is just heart wrenching. My heart and prayers go out to that family. It really does make you think….are we taking each day for granted…? 💞
It’s so redemptive when our thoughts get steered toward legacy and eternity in the midst of a tragedy. Thanks for doing that. My heart aches for that family.
Weddings make me examine my marriage, funerals make me examine my legacy. Something you said struck me, you mentioned turning our eyes toward eternity in the midst of tragedy. So often when something bad happens, we get stuck in the pain of the here and now. If we can find some way to learn and grow from the experience, it not only helps us grieve, but gives purpose to our grieving.
Such a tragic event. I’ve also been doing quite a bit of reflecting this past week. I lost my oldest brother to cancer 4 years ago on March 24. April 20 will be the one year mark of my mother’s passing. While I’ve certainly lost other family members, it’s times like this that I also think about how others will remember me. Something my father used to say “Pin a rose on my collar today, because I won’t be here to enjoy it when I’m gone”.
Your father’s saying made me smile! How lovely. I’m sorry for your loss of close family members. I imagine that although it gets easier to get through days without them, that they are always on your mind. Here’s to leaving a legacy!
I don’t know what kind of legacy I’ll leave. I hope people remember me as a loving husband to my wife,as a kind person,one who cared about people. That I had a good sense of humor at times and that I loved my friends and family.
Patrick, My guess is that the things you described are exactly the legacy you’ll leave. Those are honorable goals to have.