In one of the boxes we opened on Sunday was an worn leather packet that looked like it was out of the old West.  Dating back to the 1900's were letters with one and two cent stamps.  It was the personal papers of one of Ken's aunts who had no children.  What do you do with stuff like that?  I hate to throw it out, it is the only remaining record of her and her husband's life.  But it is all useless.  There isn't anyone to give it to.

Ken's aunt (Betty) was married to a soldier (Clair) in Patton's army and served in North Africa during WW2.  It is amazing how all the memories of what they did and who they were are gone.  But that is what life is all about.  You live.  You do good, or you don't.  And when you are gone the only thing that is left is what you invested in the lives of others.

They invested in other people's lives.  They sponsored international students from a local college and fed them and opened their home to them.  They led many of them to Christ.  They didn't have any biological children, but they had hundreds that called them Mom and Dad.

I had three ladder back chairs that were hers.  I gave them to Pat.  Pat will give them to one of her daughters.  As they are passed down, someone will say, "These were aunt Betty's chairs."  Nobody will know who Betty was, but a sense of family will be passed on.

But the lives they changed will produce other changed lives.  You don't get to decide what people take from your life.  You share.  Someone learns.  And they share...and someone else learns.

I Thessalonians 5:14-15 "Now we exhort you brethren, warn those that are unruly, comfort the feebleminded, support the weak, be patient toward all people.  See that none of you render evil for evil to any man; but ever follow that which is good, both among yourselves, (Christians) and to all men."   Do good.