There are only two things that live beyond us…our heart words and our children.  Our contribution to the future is tied up in those two things. When I say heart words, I mean what pours from our hearts.  Some heart words are not actual words, but notes to a song or paint on a canvas.  They are the things that express our hearts in ways others can be inspired.  It is the depth of meaning that our heart words carry that lives on beyond our lives and touches the future.  When we are finished here, whatever we have poured into our children remains.  They carry with them our hopes, and dreams…our heart words.  If we did not have any they carry that as well. They carry what we were about while we were here and they pass it on…empty words or full ones.  

The thing about kids is they have selective memories.  Sometimes they remember our worst moments more than the outstanding ones. Their view of things can be entirely different than ours.  This is where our heart words come in. Our passions can live on for many generations after us.   To encourage someone with words is a great thing…but will they remember?  If you write the words down, record the song, paint the picture, or build the dream, then there is power. Any time they are discouraged, whether you are present or not, they can be inspired by what you left behind.  That is why we still read C.S. Lewis, and Detrick Bonhoeffer.  That is why we love great art or a great symphony.  That is why the bible still touches us today.  God’s heart words created life…his gift to us.  Ours can stir up that life or crush it.  That is the power our words have.

To live fully you have to think…if I died today have I done everything in life I wanted?  That means have I poured my heart words of life into everyone I love?  Is the passion of my life clear?  Have my heart words glorified the one who gave them to me?  Have I done all that he wanted me to?  I do not know how to explain it other than to say, I do not want to stand before the Father without pouring out what he had for me to give. 

Cancer does not give you guarantees.  Right now, it is gone and I have a clean bill of health.  As far as they know, I will live to be 90….as far as they know.  However, I do not know that because cancer does not tell its secrets.  So, if I find out in a year that cancer is back, what will I have done differently?  These are not meant to be morbid thoughts…but practical ones.  Right now…today…I think pouring out into the future is the most important thing…whether it is through my own children, my students or my heart words.  I want to paint a picture with my words so they will live on for hundreds of years beyond me.  I want to inspire someone to do what it is that God has called them to…to live fully, not to shrink back…to pour out their own heart words. Just think of how many people could be changed, inspired, moved, and empowered if just one of us lived like that.  I guess Jesus proved that.   If you do not have any heart words…I know the giver of words. He has some for you, so you can pour yourself out and use them to change your children…and the world.