Volume XXIII, Number 28 (Issue 1137) | July 14, 2025
That Is Going to Leave a Mark
I am of an age where the slightest encounter with an immovable object can result in a bruise. And thanks to a couple of medications I take, those bruises seem to hang around for a long time. That said, the life of those bruises is but an instant in comparison to the permanent mark that the recent flooding in the Texas Hill Country is going to leave on so many people and so many things. The human toll of dead and missing is unimaginable. For those who lost loved ones as well as those who are helping in the recovery, the knowledge of what took place on the weekend of the Fourth of July 2025 will be forever seared into their psyche.
That is the thing about great loss, great achievement, exceptional service, and individual sacrifice – all of them make lasting impressions. A question we need to ask ourselves is what, if any, lasting impression will we make? A corollary to that is will that impression (will we) be known for the good we did, or will it be for one or more of our failings? Rest assured, we all have our human frailties. It comes with the territory. But we can also leave a legacy of good works if we are so inclined.
Sandy and I recently attended a memorial service for a dear friend of ours. Hearing the list of her professional achievements, while noteworthy, was nothing compared to the reflections her three daughters had to offer. Each of the girls, in turn, spoke of their fond memories of their mother and the incredible impact she had on their lives by being fully present for them during their childhoods, teens and college years. That impact and the lessons imparted are being carried forward now that two of the girls are themselves mothers.
The thing is, one need not be a parent, grandparent, or blood relative to have a lasting impact on a young person. Camp counselors, mentors, teachers, first bosses, and others can and frequently do leave an indelible
impression by virtue of what they say and do. In the moment it may not seem significant to those involved. But, in keeping with a line from a movie I watched last week, “everything has a purpose that shows itself in due time.” What legacy will you be sure to leave?
Soli Deo Gloria
From Luke 10:25-37, The Parable of the Good Samaritan
“‘Which of these three do you think was a good neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?’ The expert in the law replied, ‘The one who had mercy on him.’ Jesus told him, ‘Go and do likewise.’” Luke 10:36-37
J. Keith Hughey
Mobile: (210) 260-0955
E-mail: keith@jkeithhughey.com
Website: www.jkeithhughey.com
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Copyright 2025 by J. Keith Hughey. All rights reserved. Permission is hereby granted for reproduction and redistribution of this essay as provided under the copyright laws of the United States of America. Recent issues of Musings may be found at www.jkeithhughey.com. Your comments are always welcome.