Remember Teri — her legacy: to be a reminder in your heart

 

Back when I worked in retail, there was I girl at work that, unfortunately, I did not know as well as I could have (and that was my fault), that would always speak to me and be so kind. She had a way about her that just made me happy. A light in her spirit. She would always say hi when she saw me and tell me goodbye when she would see me leave, or acknowledge me, and whenever she walked by she would start up a simple conversation. But even with her kind heart showing, I could tell she was lonely. One day after she did one of these things I thought, “she has the most tender heart of anyone here (and most any one I have ever known).”

 

Not long after that, a couple weeks at the most, she was killed in a car accident. My spirit was crushed. I went around work asking people if they knew if she was saved, and no one knew. I was then told she had a drug problem in the past, but for 90 days had been doing fine but that drugs were thought to be involved in the crash that took her life. Then, I felt like I was dying inside.

 

I could not stop blaming myself, “why didn't you talk to her about Jesus? You had plenty of opportunities. Why didn’t you tell her how much you cared for her? How of most anyone you knew, she had most real, loving and tender heart.”

 

She touched me deeply before she died and now she has a place in my heart forever.

 

I decided this cannot happen again. I must witness more. That day I began to do so, though I could not hold back my tears when I spoke to people and whenever I would be alone at work I would start to cry.

 

I wrote my Church (by emailing a friend) and asked that they pray for her and I know they did. Thank you saints. God then began to tell me some things and today, the day after I heard about her death, God told me more. I began to think about how Teri could help others to come to Jesus. How the pain I feel could help you to not make the mistake I did. I began to think about how that could be her legacy and how bringing more people to Jesus because of her, could be credited to her account in heaven and then the Holy Spirit flowed through me, and then I knew for sure that she was in heaven. How happy that made me. I then realized that someone’s legacy (like recorded sermons that later help to bring people to accept Jesus) can store up treasure in heaven for them after they have died.* It is my prayer that kindest, lonely heart, that no longer walks this earth, will stir in you a desire to tell others of Jesus.

 

That beautiful heart of Teri’s touched me so very deeply that God stirred in me the need to help create a legacy for her to add to her treasure in heaven*. It is God’s will that this be done.* Since you have read this, it is God’s will that you take part in her legacy.*

 

Teri’s legacy is this*: To be a reminder in your heart to love people while they are still here, because they may not be tomorrow, and to show that love by leading them to Christ, or planting a seed... Whenever you think of her when you witness, either before you witness or after you witness, that is God crediting her account as He wishes. This treasure she receives is possible, I believe, because it was her tender heart and words that started all this, by God’s grace (more accurately, I believe, God’s providential will). If you think of her that will be God’s Holy Spirit reminding you that you would not be going to the length you are except for the story of Teri and her tender heart. God will keep your part but there is a part now for Teri also. When you hear God’s Spirit tell you this, rejoice for Teri and you will be blessed.

 

Remember Teri and take the time to tell others of Jesus. You do not know if they will have a tomorrow and you may not know if they will enter heaven without you telling them the Gospel. I am so very glad that God told me that Teri was in heaven but you may not be blessed in that way, and if you do not speak of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, it may be a regret you carry with you the rest of your life.

 

Remember Teri.

 

in Christ,

 

Rob Norman

 

 

 

If you’re not saved, Come to Jesus!

 

 

* The beliefs I have concerning storing up treasure in heaven are mine. I don't yet know if this is in the Bible, so I am not saying it is, but if it is not I believe it would be something like John 21:25, and John 20:30 because I believe it, with no doubts, because of God's Spirit in me when I thought of these things. Matthew 8:13, Matthew 9:29, Romans 14:22 The faith which you have, have as your own conviction before God. Happy is he who does not condemn himself in what he approves.

 

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