Leaving a Legacy of Love
What will you be remembered for?
Over the past few decades, my wife Bev and I have been privileged to get to know many people on virtually every inhabited continent. A number stand out as humble, caring and loving servants, people who don’t care who gets the credit.
Recently a close friend of ours died after a few years of declining health. This person and his wife—Tom and Sue Peine—provided an excellent standard of Christ-centered servant leadership. Surrounded by his wife and loving family in a storybook ending, Tom left this life on the Sabbath of Feb. 28. I was asked to and wanted to preach his funeral service, but unfortunately Bev and I were already booked into an extensive Church trip to Australia and New Zealand.
Tom’s life, like many others, was remarkable. For those who didn’t know him (or Sue, who survives him), I would like to share a few thoughts. While Bev and I couldn’t be at the funeral, which I am told was an unusual mix of much laughter and celebration as much as it was a time of reminiscing and pain of separation, I did send a few words which were read.
Tom shared many things in common with me and Bev. Tom was a long-time elder serving various congregations in Indiana. His and Sue’s service—particularly to young people—was legendary. He was beloved by many.
At the funeral, the theme was this: “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another” (John 13:34-35).
These words of Jesus were aptly fitting for Tom’s remembrance, as if anything else, he truly left a legacy of love for all.
He also had a kind word, even in days where he was physically challenged. He always looked on the bright side of things, even in darker times.
Tom advocated giving people the benefit of the doubt. Reflecting the words of Jesus in a humorous, but thoughtful way, Tom would occasionally say: “We can never be a judge or judge others. But we can be ‘fruit inspectors.’” This, of course, refers to the words of Christ in Matthew 7:16-20, where Jesus said: “You will know them by their fruits…every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit…Therefore by their fruits you will know them.”
Tom was always interested in life and all its curiosities. Tom became a regular speaker at Sabbath services in our congregation. His messages were interesting, as he saw life in a much bigger way than through predictable cut-and-dry formulas. His love and grasp of human relationships was amazing as he always sought to help people who were challenged or who were challenging themselves—whether they were children, teens, young adults or elderly. He always sought how he could help them break through their personal limitations. He understood God’s grace and love for mankind and was an enabler of what people could become. He was a helper of challenged people’s joy, even those who were greatly challenged and who needed extra support and understanding. From Tom I learned how God loves us in spite of our faults and shortcomings.
He was faithful to God in his personal life and in his role as an elder in the Church. He believed in God, but he also believed in what people could become.
When I started LifeNets International, a non-profit organization to help the vulnerable and disadvantaged, Tom immediately took an interest. He joined our board of directors and became our second chairman, a role that he held to the end of his life. He was at our last board meeting about three weeks ago.
On the board he was an enabler. His personal philosophy was always how to enable the project directors to do their jobs the best way possible for the most people. He recognized nonsense and charted a sensible course in human relationships.
Tom would be the first one to tell you that he wasn’t perfect, and he would probably be embarrassed that I’m writing about him. But as Paul wrote, Tom fought “the good fight” and kept the faith. All those who knew Tom know that a crown of righteousness is laid up for him (2 Timothy 4:7).
To conclude, at the funeral service one of his sons summed Tom up: “My father was a selfless man and always put others ahead of himself. He continuously did this with his words and his actions. For him, life was not about money, material possessions or personal gain. His pillars in life were God and family. And to him, family was a growing circle of people that he cared for and helped—this filled room is a testament to that. God was his strength. Family was the manifestation of God in his life. He showered us with love and nurtured us.”
With Tom as an example, I have to ask myself, “What kind of legacy will I leave?”
What will be yours?
P.S. If you would like a copy of the eulogy I wrote for Tom Peine, please write to me personally at victor_kubik@ucg.org.
