Names, Photos, and Legacy

And now these three remain:

faith, hope and love.

But the greatest of these is love.

–1 Corinthians 13:13

Among Grandpa Layer’s six children, my father was the only one that bore sons who could carry on the family name. Both of my brothers also had sons, and so far, one has sons of his own. If things continue along the same trajectory, there will be plenty of Layers in the future. Our family line will be secure. However, while cleaning out my parent’s property, we came across a storefront sign in the back of the barn that read, Laier Bakery. Upon further

inquiry, we discovered that earlier generations spelled our last name with an “i” instead of a “y”. So, though my immediate family’s surname appears to be intact, the family legacy feels severed.

As a child, I remember an old man named Allie Art sitting at our dining room table for Thanksgiving and Easter dinners. He was a very distant relative who lived alone with his dog in downtown Buffalo. Dad would make the half hour drive into the city to pick him up for the holidays so he wouldn’t be alone. I don’t remember when Allie died, but somehow I acquired his photo albums. In them, Allie is a child, a young boy, and a World War I naval marksman on the U.S.S. Galveston. The pictures are beautiful, a nostalgic reminder of a bygone era. I wish I knew the stories behind some of the photos, but Allie died years ago, and there’s no one left to ask.

Since turning 65, I’ve been thinking a lot about the stuff I’ve accumulated over the years, especially the things that hold sentimental value but have no use, like the Laier Bakery sign and Allie’s photos. I also have a closet full of clothes I no longer wear, bins in the attic that contain relics from high school, and a junk drawer full of, well, junk. Why do I keep this stuff, and who will have the pleasure of sorting it all out after I’m gone?

Jesus warned about accumulating things. He said, “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal” (Matthew 6:19–20). 

Jesus does not ask us to give up our paychecks and designer shoes (I have a closetful, so I'd be in trouble if he did), he merely asks us to seek the finer things first—things that bring us closer to him and to each other. What Jesus called us to store up are things like a knowledge of Scripture, moments of compassion, acts of service, and a legacy of love. The beauty of these treasures is that they all accumulate naturally when we devote ourselves to following him. 

With this in mind, I now offer you four questions I have often asked myself:

• When was the last time you sat with Scripture for the sole purpose of knowing God better?

• When was the last time you took the opportunity to demonstrate compassion, mercy, or forgiveness?

• When was the last time you performed an act of service without expecting gratitude or acknowledgment?

• When you think about your own funeral, can you imagine people saying that you loved others well?

I won’t be passing my father’s surname on to anyone in the next generation, but I strive to pass on my heavenly Father’s teachings to anyone who will listen. The world is, after all, full of opportunities to reflect Christ and make him known. We just need to take advantage of those opportunities when they arise. And while I may die in obscurity like Allie Art, I know that God has engraved me onto the palms of his hands. Therefore, I look forward to one day hearing Jesus say, “Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!” (Matthew 25:21)

It’s easy to get caught up in consumer ideals and social media promises, but the riches of this world mean nothing in heaven. Therefore, let us echo the words of Paul. “If we live, we live for the Lord; and if we die, we die for the Lord. So, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord” (Romans 14:8). Everything else is just “stuff.”

SHARING AN APPROPRIATE SONG: First Things First by Consumed by Fire

Favorite lyric: “I don't wanna love what the world loves. I don't wanna chase what the world does. I only want you.”