Carve your name on hearts

Last week I went to a memorial for a dear friend of my father who passed away about a week ago. He died as, what I would characterize, a "young" 83-year-old. I knew him my entire life and he was one of these guys who never seemed to grow old.

I never saw him angry or heard him speak a bad word about others. He was also the first–and maybe only–person I ever met who would pause and think for a moment before responding to whatever you asked him. A remarkable trait.

I can’t say I knew him that well, but my experience and what I’ve heard of him remind me of an old Charles Spurgeon quote.

“A good character is the best tombstone. Those who loved you and were helped by you will remember you when forget-me-nots have withered. Carve your name on hearts, not on marble.”