Centuries from now, people may research us, trying to find out all they can about how we lived our lives in the decade of the 2020s. As humans, we will always want to know where and from whom we came. The flip side is that we are also rightly concerned with the legacy we leave behind.
Some have tried to leave a final message on their gravestone. Comedian Rodney Dangerfield left with a laugh. His reads, “There goes the neighborhood.” The gravestone of famous talk-show host Merv Griffin has these words: “I will not be right back after this message.” A man named John Yeast simply put, “Pardon me for not rising.” Finally, a woman named Kay made a unique statement by leaving her famous fudge recipe etched in stone.
While a good headstone inscription can share a little about your legacy, we suggest another option for Christians: personalizing your will with a statement of love to family members and a statement of faith.
Why make a statement in your will?
A will is a publicly recorded document (a trust is not). By including a statement of faith in your will, you’ll be able to share why your faith matters to you in your own words as a matter of public record.
“This is all the inheritance I can give my dear family. The religion of Christ can give them one which will make them rich indeed,” concludes the will of a former governor of Virginia. This will is still available at a county courthouse in central Virginia, though its author died in 1799.
To whom does this statement of faith belong?
The same man who famously said, “Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? Forbid it, almighty God! I know not what course others may take; but for me, give me liberty or give me death!” Patrick Henry, the author of the speech and the will, is sometimes called the Orator of the Revolution.
Like Henry, you can leave a legacy of faith through your will. Your testament to God’s goodness and faithfulness can be a blessing to both your family and to anyone else who will read this public document for generations to come.
