The best tribute one can offer is to live an impacted life.
Three of my Father’s four sons had just completed a candid consultation with Hospice, a service to enhance my Father’s impending death with dignity and comfort. Since it is extremely rare we brothers are together, we met with our Dad as a group, rather than customary individual visits. As each of we three are men of faith, I requested we gather round his bed, place our hands upon his frail body, and share prayer.
I led as we gave corporate thanks and consensus for his life and legacy. We expressly acknowledged his integrity, decency, faithfulness, and character. The stuff in life that really matters. It was powerful. Striving to restrain unanticipated emotion, my elder brothers took turns sincerely giving thanks to God, and then directly to Dad for his love and loyalty as a husband and a father. Most significantly, we overtly affirmed that Dad was a committed Christian who modeled authentic faith and love for his Lord. His relationship with Jesus Christ tangibly impacted every area of his life, and as a result, ours. We count it a privilege to have grown up with a father who was a godly man.
In his condition, he was minimally responsive, yet we were assured of his awareness. When as we indicated it was time to leave, he replied in a timely and strong voice, “All right”. We all had things to do and somewhere to go. So, did Dad.
I have three grown sons. Should they gather round my bed in my final days, I can only hope that foremost each would be a committed follower of Christ, and would express even half of the sincere affirmations we shared with our Dad.
The best tribute is to live an impacted life.