How Do You Want To Be Remembered?

Just a stone’s throw away, out in the countryside, is the grave of Chief Wapello, our county’s namesake. In 1838, Chief Wapello and his Fox tribe settled in the land that is now Ottumwa.

The memorial park is beautiful, and there is a building there featuring the story of Gen. Joseph Street, the Agency man who worked so closely with our Chief. They are now buried next to each other with their families.

The details of Chief Wapello and Joseph Street’s lives live on through this memorial and the historical narratives saved over the years. Anyone who wants to learn about what they said, did and accomplished has access to the story of these personalities of our local history.

How do you want to be remembered? For being a great daughter, wife or mom? For being a pillar of the community or the church? For what you’ve done, been active in or accomplished? Those are all good things, but there’s something much better than that.

There’s a wonderful song out right now called Only Jesus. The words remind us that instead of making our mark or making a name for ourselves, we should work as unto the Lord so all people see is Him working through us.

That’s easier said than done, though, when selfishness and pride get in the way. It’s human nature to want respect and accolades, and our hearts can be desperate to know we’ve made a difference in our time here on earth.

Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is well pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen. Hebrews 13:20-21

Someday no one will know my name. They won’t know what I did on earth, who I touched and who I influenced. But there will be people who know Jesus Christ and His salvation because of what I said and did. If they know the name and of Jesus Christ and believe that He died for their sins, that is worth it all. All I want is to do the will of God, even if that means living in obscurity so He can have the spotlight. And I pray this is the desire of all our hearts today - not me, only Jesus!

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