A young girl, aged 17, quit living on earth yesterday.
It was raining and she had just driven past my house, lost control and hit another vehicle, and was pronounced dead at the scene.
My son went to school with her.
They were in the same classes, played sports together, and she was a cousin of one of his best buddies.
I don’t claim to know why life would end at age 17, and for all of the people who love her and knew her, I wish it wouldn’t.
Sometimes we think our lives are small and insignificant because we only know what we can see in front of us.
This young girl has left an impact on my life because her life has had an impact on someone I love.
And now that I’m sharing this story with you, she will leave an impact on your life too.
That’s how our legacy works.
Maya Angelou said to Oprah, “you have no idea what your legacy will be. Your legacy is every life you touch.”
Sometimes we touch someone’s life with our words, sometimes it’s our actions, and sometimes it’s because someone told a story about us.
Either way, it’s worth considering … if your life were to end abruptly, far too soon, would you have left a legacy you’re proud of?
Could you do better?