making a lasting impression?

I have talked before about leaving a legacy on this world.  But, did you know that you can leave a legacy on this world WITHOUT having to know absolutely everything, or even have made something of yourself.  The only thing that you need to have done is to live life to the fullest with God in the center.  My whole educated life, I thought that I had to make this huge impact on people by being the very best at what I was doing.  Well, at that time it was either music, or drama, or teaching (after all that is what I was supposed to be doing with my life).  I never really took into consideration that those in the Bible did not have billions of dollars, or their names plastered everywhere, or the best designer clothes, or the biggest donation to the best charity.  This may sound strange considering we all know that as a fisherman, it is physically impossible to have been able to do ANY of that. 

You can make a lasting impression with your smile.  Ha.  That sounds so simple.  This summer my roommate and I were talking about a huge tragedy that happened in our hometown.  We were talking about the people that passed away that year.  8 to be exact.  I know.  How can one town have been so devastated with so many deaths in ONE year?  Well, we were and we were also able to move on.  But, one thing that ALWAYS sticks with me is the first person that passed away.  She was so young.  She and her mother were on their way to pick up her older brother for Easter.  She died on Good Friday.  I know I don't have to ask this question.  But, who else died on Good Friday?  Yep.  Her Lord and Savior.  She was a freshman in high school.  There are a few things that I remember about her.  She had a contagious smile.  She was always smiling and laughing.  But, most importantly, she radiated God's love wherever she was.  The last thing I remember about her was the night that I was walking out of the high school, away from musical practice, she had me sit with her and two of her friends.  She and her two friends were discussing what it would be like to die and go see Jesus.  She talked so highly of just praising God all day long, every day.  I asked her why she was talking about this.  Didn't she want to grow up and get married.  She told me, she could not see herself getting older.  She just wanted to be with Jesus.  This was Thursday night.  I sit here and cry about it because I remember how God orchestrated all of that perfectly.  Her memorial day was so packed that people were sitting in the welcome center to be there.  You could easily fit 1000 people there.  But, with the packed church there was probably closer to 1500 people there.  At a freshman girls' memorial service.  She saved so many lives that day.  She was not even here and she saved more lives in one day than I have probably saved in all my 24 years of living.  She was not a billionaire or a model or even a teacher.  She was a God-fearing, 14-year-old freshman, who loved God with all her heart, soul and mind.  She made a lasting impression.  Can you say that about yourself?  Right now, I know I can't.