During one of the many training classes I attended in the early 1990′s, we were challenged to write a eulogy for ourselves. The point of the class was to go forward in our life to the day we were being planted in the ground and write down the things we would want people to say about us. We literally had to picture the day we were in a coffin or urn in a room full of people that had known us and project the things we wanted them to be able to say about our lives.
While looking through some of the training materials I had stored away, I came across the eulogy I wrote. This document was written 16 years ago when I had been married 8 years and had 3 boys under the age of 7. After reading the document, I was amazed at the power of writing down my wishes as to how I would be remembered.
Although the document is very personal, here it is. I am very tempted to edit it to clean up some of the grammar and spelling but will not do so.
If you take the time to read it, make sure to read the statement at the end.
Titled: “How I would like the Euligy for Jack David Lowry to Be.”
David was a man that always saw the silver lining when grey clouds were overhead. He was committed to improving the esteem and lifestyles of everyone he came in contact with.
If you needed something done, he would help you find someone to help you with it when because of time he couldn’t help you himself.
He was a loving committed faithful husband and friend to Cyndie.
He realized that the blessings he had were from the lord and used them that way to the glory of God.
He had a vision of what Heaven would be and wanted to get as many people there with him as was possible with God’s help.
He loved his children and set in front of them quantities of quality time to help them grow and to learn to love the Lord.
He was dedicated to God’s work through showing God’s love to people that needed it.
He didn’t know the meaning of can’t because he was on God’s team.
There was never a doubt that he was God’s child.
He helped many families in conflict by teaching them how to communicate effectively and to set goals so they could be focused on why they were there.
He always had a smile to give you when you needed it the most.
He could lead others to their problems when it was not clear to them what they were.
He had God’s perspective on situations as much as was humanly possible because he walked with him daily.
He was committed to his family and their well being when he was gone.
David was a good listener and made time to listen to those that needed him.
He was a good Father in law and was very supportive of his children in all of their activities as they grew up.
He was a good role model in that he gave credit to God for all of his successes.
That is the extent of what I came up with at that point in my life. The cool thing is that most of these things could actually be said about me at my funeral. Somewhat like writing down goals, writing this eulogy had me live out the things I hoped others could say about me.
The coolest thing is that now I can write another one that includes things that are not yet true like what a good grandfather I was, and other things that have not happened yet.
Now the question is: Would I be where I am today and be who I am if I had not written these things down that had not yet occurred?
Comments (5)
RYC: I’m glad you liked it enough to want a follow-up. LOL
Nice list of blessings! Mine: My Nell, God in His heaven, a fairly generous set of parentals, several siblings and spouses, nieces and nephews, cousins, uncles and aunts who love me (Yay!), lots of friends, a mind that never stops making me laugh, a car that thankfully is still running……….YOU! Thanks for being my friend, dear. It means a lot to me.
Hard question to answer. Do we need to write down our path with God to continue on it? Isn’t it written in our heart in the name Jesus? I forget sometimes to tell myself CAN’T doesn’t exist in my vocabulary. I try to remember COMPROMISE does. I’ve told Nell, “throw me a party when I die. I want people to celebrate my life, not sorrow over my death.” Maybe I should write some of those things down though…for her?
I do believe that if you write things down OR if you believe certains things about yourself they will somehow come about. Maybe not everything because of circumstances beyond our reach, but I would say most of them would. So even if you didn’t write them down on paper, if you believed these things to be true about yourself, then I still think you would be where you are today. I believe it was Jesus who said, “what you believe in your heart…you are” Am I right about that one??? Think he said it more like this…”as a man prospers in his heart, so is he…” oh well…you know what I mean!!
Oh and by the way…VERY nice picture up there! I like it very much!
I hope to never see when this will be used – Thats right I am first – Love ya bubba and I had to get the girls out – They don’t know the word quiet or wisper – John
The picture has to go -