My dad’s side of the family were “savers.”  I can remember periodically my father would “dig” out heirlooms and explain their significance.  As a youngster and even teen, I would lament and find this boring and sometimes the musty smell of age on some items was a real “turn-off.”  Why in the world did they save this stuff?  I had zero appreciation.

With age comes wisdom, so guess what, I am now the proud recipient of a few of those antiques.  A family plate over 200 years old, a small secretary desk, a Shaker child’s rocker, the bell my great, great, great grandmother rang to call her students into class and more. These items and others touch my heart.  I love knowing they were used, held and part of the lives of my family.  Now where do these belong? Some items I have given to my boys, some to my niece and nephew, but what of the others.  Of course, you might be thinking, “Get real, you can’t take this ‘stuff’ with you. Get rid of it.” My mind swirls with indecision.

Key word here is STUFF.  Yes, these heirlooms are precious to me as I love family history and grew to have great appreciation for my heritage. A thought came to mind.  What did Mary save?  Did she have a wooden storage shelf Jesus crafted in his father’s carpentry shop? Did Jesus have a spare robe or two that might bring her some comfort after His death? STUFF.

Mary was blessed to be given the gift of bearing our Savior into this world.  She was blessed to nurture His growth into His ministry. She was pained to watch His suffering but was blessed to be a witness to knowing He was resurrected and she would meet Him again.

STUFF.  Maybe the need to save things, “squirreling away,” is not quite as important as the legacy we leave with living.  Will your STUFF include a life lived in the Lord? Will future generations know you sought the Gospel and shared the good news? Definitely ok to have grandma’s china, but your real legacy and beauty of your life is knowing God loves us unconditionally and passing it on.

   Jill