Six weeks in heaven, a legacy on earth
Lamentations says there is a time for everything under the sun - a time to be born and a time to die. That time came for my father, Charles Starr, at one in the morning in a hospital in Oregon. I was privileged to be with him in the room - the nurse woke me up and let me know that he just passed and his body was still warm. I had arrived earlier on that Monday. My nieces who are both nurses informed me that he was dying as they could tell by the way he was breathing.
God's gift to me was to be able to talk and pray with Dad before he passed. When I sang, you could tell he acknowledged hearing me as there was a pause in his normal breathing. As I walked away from his bedside at 1:15 the next morning, it was clear that only his physical tent was left - he was already in the presence of his Savior and Lord. Now just six weeks later, we can only guess what is going on in heaven, but we imagine there has been much celebration in the presence of Jesus with those who have gone before. There are many ways a person's legacy can be measured, and my father certainly left a legacy to many people, but here are two big ways he impacted me.
A Legacy in generations
Mom and dad had four boys and we had eleven children between us. Peter and Désirée had hoped to introduce their beautiful daughter Hadassah to her great-grandfather, but he was never able to meet her. This year alone four babies were born in this generation of my dad's great-grandchildren, our two granddaughters being half of them! In April, DeEtte and I had a great time celebrating our Caleb and Ashley's two girls' birthdays - Kayleigh (3 years old) and Eloise (1 year old).
Legacy in missions
My first supporters in my Wycliffe ministry were Mom and Dad, and all that I have been able to do in my work is a part of their legacy. They prayed for me, gave generously, and released me to obey God's call on my life. I am so grateful for their encouragement over so many years. My first term of service was as a single and my first language survey was among the Wawa people of the Adamawa Province in Cameroon. We discovered that they were an independent language community and very poor.
From that first contact to today, it always seemed that no one would be able to reach this neglected fringe community. That changed when a missionary couple recorded several Bible books and passages into the Wawa language. I've also learned from reading their newsletters that a church building has been built in a village there and the chief is very interested in attending a Sunday service there. All those years ago we made the first contact and now the seeds we sowed in a small way are growing and lives are being changed. Praise God!
And your legacy?
What will be your legacy when your time on earth is done? Whatever God has called you to do in life - being a parent, being employed, fellowshipping & serving in a local church or some other role - how can you do it in obedience to Christ? How can you have an impact for the nations? Praying & interceding for others, helping send those who go, and even volunteering and going with a ministry to reach the lost might be some of the ways you leave a legacy. Some who pray daily for my life and ministry - and what God allows me to accomplish - have this as a part of their legacy.
Thank you for standing with me (and DeEtte) through so many encouraging ways. We are blessed by each of you - may you in turn each receive the Father's blessings!
