You Will Remember Me

            “You will remember me/ Remember me for centuries.”

            So goes the memorable line from Fall Out Boy’s single “Centuries”. Besides getting stuck in my head (I keep humming the ”da-da-dada” over and over again), it also has me thinking about the legacy I’m going to leave.

            We all want to be remembered. We all want to have an impact and make a difference. We don’t want to fade into obscurity and be forgotten. We want eternity.

            “Some legends are told/ Some turn to dust or to gold/ But you will remember me.”

            Our fear is to die alone. We are afraid to disappear. There is strength in numbers, and family in friends. We want to matter. We want to be valued. We want to change the world.

            I’m sure it’s the same with you. 

What Are You Going to Do about It?

             So that’s all fine and dandy. What are you doing to make sure that happens? Think about your relationships. Are you making an impact?

            Think about your friendships with your peers. Are you influencing them? Does your reputation give you a chance to help your friends? Do they respect you and value your input?

            Think about your reputation with authorities in your life. Do your parents trust you? Do you try hard for  your teachers? Do your bosses rely on you? When you make decisions, are they wise and conducive for success?

            There is nothing wrong with wanting greatness. There is nothing wrong with wanting to be remembered. Think of all the heroes of the faith (both in the Bible and out of it). These people did amazing things with the strength of God (Hebrews 11 gives a great summary of what heroes are made of).

            But you won’t be remembered if you don’t set yourself up to impact the world around you. Take the time and put in the work to improve your reputation. 

            Be reliable. Be trustworthy. When you speak, say something worth listening to. When people speak of you, they respect you because they can’t do anything else. Don’t complain (I need to listen to this one), and keep fighting. Never stop fighting. Never give up.

            Your reputation turns into your legacy. That's what will be remembered.