Caring for elderly parents. It’s both an incredible privilege and a delicate challenge – the transition from receiving their care to being their caregiver. If you’ve been there, you understand.

Buried in those mixed emotions, though, are priceless nuggets of hope. Recently, one of those nuggets shook my soul and reminded me that I don’t need more truth; I need truth to be more real.

Discarding mementos but not the memories

It happened when we moved my parents to independent living and started emptying their home. You try to not get caught up in the emotions of discarding 50+ years of household mementos, but it’s so hard. Hundreds and hundreds of memory-laden items all faced one question: Keep, Toss, or Burn? Sadly, many had to burn. Thus, the billowing black smoke of a raging bonfire clouded the clear blue sky of my rural Iowa childhood home.

I wanted to keep every treasure in my parents’ home, but I couldn’t. I needed to downsize my own home, not fill it with more. Therefore, we filled huge dumpsters and stoked that massive bonfire with old furniture, books, knickknacks, and anything burnable. But then I saw something that shook my soul and sifted my spirit – the fiery end of an item that epitomized my beloved mom: her piano.

Like so many mothers, my mom is the glue of our family. Always loving. Always caring. Always serving. And for decades, she served our community with that piano. Wedding, funerals, and church – all were opportunities to bless others with her musical gift. I knew we had to burn that old rickety piano, but I couldn’t turn away. In a surreal stupor, I watched flames engulf this symbol of Mom’s selfless legacy and leave little more than a tiny mound of ashes.

Instantly, I remembered part of the biblical foundation laid by my mom: “Now if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, or straw, each one’s work will become evident; for the day will show it because it is to be revealed with fire, and the fire itself will test the quality of each one’s work” I Cor. 3:12-13.

A common tool resulting in uncommon faithfulness

In one of the most heart-wrenching moments of my life, I watched that piano face the inevitable fate shared by everything and everyone ever created – fire. Like every possession, that piano would eventually burn. But our works are different – some get refined; others burn up. And then it hit me . . .

Mom’s piano burned up, but her legacy never will.

Although Mom’s piano was a great tool for doing good, it was just a tool. Like acts made of “wood, hay, or straw,” it burned. But Mom’s legacy of godly service is different. Like gold, silver, and precious stones, her legacy becomes more pure, more precious, and more permanent when tested.

And sure enough, while helping clean out my old home, Mom’s friends shared memories of that legacy. Without prompting, they gushed about how she impacted their lives. Like the prophet Isaiah, she brings good news to the humble and brokenhearted (Is 61:1). And she extends a garland instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and the cloak of praise instead of a disheartened spirit (Is 61:3).

No, my mom has never been famous. Never sought fanfare. All she’s done is live faithfully. Faithful to God. Faithful to family, friends, and people in need, expecting nothing in return. And for that, countless Iowans, along with God, join me in saying, “Well done, Mom!” You’ve been faithful with little and with much. And one day, hopefully not soon, you’ll enter into the joy of your Master (Matt 25:21).

For indeed, Mom’s legacy will always triumph over ashes because it will never become ashes. It will live on here because it will live on in heaven. It multiplies through people, not possessions.

And so can you. Your legacy can triumph over ashes too if you’ll faithfully fulfill your God-given purpose with God-honoring passion . . . just like my dear ol’ mom.

Questions: What is your legacy? When tested by fire, will it burn up, or will it become more pure, more precious, and more permanent? What could you do today to ensure your legacy honors God and lasts for eternity?