Unforgettable is one of those ah-ha words. Nat King Cole recorded a hit son by that title decades ago to describe the feelings of two lovers. Nat’s daughter, Natalie Cole, re-recorded the song mixing her father’s original recording with hers. It was her tribute to her unforgettable father. I can identify several people I would definitely characterize as unforgettable in my life. Unfortunately, a few of those were unforgettable for the wrong reasons. There was Russell, who delighted in harassing me in junior high, and a little league coach who found it particularly amusing to call me “Shrimpy” because of my diminutive size. Younger generations often view older generations as unforgettably criticaland intolerant. But the most unforgettable people, the ones who make a real difference, are those who go out of their way to encourage and challenge others to not settle for less than God’s best. They sincerely want and believe God has a purpose already at work, and they are the first to spur us on. I knew people like in my life. My childhood pastor challenged and encouraged me to not depend on my parents’ faith, but to make it my own submitting to God’s grace and mercy in Christ. There was a friend who never let me underestimate the gifts and talents God had given me for His purposes. And of course, there was my father who always believed in me, taught me how to work hard, and gave me the freedom to follow God’s call upon my life, even when it meant the dismantling of his own dreams. Who are the unforgettable people in your life—those who made a difference and inspired you to become who you are today? Perhaps a more important question might be…who do you know who would say you are one of those unforgettable people (in a positive way) in their life? This is not a question intended to stroke your ego and puff you up with pride. It is a question about authenticity and intentionality. Unforgettable people don’t live for themselves. They are legacy-builders, not barn-builders. They understand that God has placed them here to display the glory of God as a conduit of blessing to others. May I be so presumptuous as to suggest three core characteristics of an unforgettable person? Wonderfully unforgettable people are:
- Humble: everything in their life points to selfless service. They do not seek credit, glory or praise from others. They truly put the good of others above themselves.
- Authentic: There is little that is phony or hypocritical about them…but should something hypocritical uncovered, they will be the first to confess it when pointed out, ask for forgiveness and truly seek to rectify the issue.
- Consistent: The unforgettable life is one marked by integrity—what you see in public is who they are in private. They can be counted on to stay the course and remain steadfast in faith and practice.
So, who will one day list your name among those unforgettable people God used to bless them? Is your life the kind of unforgettable that makes God’s greatness, goodness, and glory undeniable? What are the things about the unforgettable people in your life that make them so unforgettable to you?
Cavin Harper is a graduate of Baylor University and Denver Seminary, Cavin Harper served as an associate pastor for 17 years before founding ElderQuest Ministrieswhich later became known as the Christian Grandparenting Network. He writes a weekly blog on grandparenting and has authored several books including Courageous Grandparenting: Building a Legacy Worth Outliving.
Featured Image by Bence Szemerey form pexels.com
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