Unforgettable is one of those ah-ha words. Nat King Cole recorded a hit song by that title decades ago to describe the feelings of two lovers. Nat’s daughter, Natalie Cole, re-recorded the song mixing her father’s original recording with hers as a tribute to her unforgettable father.
I can identify several people I would definitely characterize as unforgettable in my life. Unfortunately, a few of those were unforgettable for the wrong reasons. There was Russell, who delighted in harassing me in junior high, and a little league coach who found it particularly amusing to call me “Shrimpy” because of my diminutive size. Sadly, many young people view older generations as unforgettably critical and intolerant.
But the truly unforgettable people are the ones who make a positive difference. They are those who go out of their way to encourage and challenge others to not settle for less than God’s best. They sincerely want and believe God has a purpose already at work, and they are the first to spur us on.
I knew people like that in my life too. My childhood pastor challenged and encouraged me to not expect my parents’ faith would be sufficient for me, but to make it my own by acknowledging God’s grace and mercy through Christ and submitting myself to His lordship. There was Phil, Leonard and Gary who never let me underestimate the grace and gifts God had given me for His purposes. Then, there was Bill and Ila and Dorothy who gave me opportunities in my youth to learn what it means to lead and keep the faith. And of course, there was my father who always believed in me, taught me how to work hard, and gave me the freedom to follow God’s call upon my life, even when it meant the dismantling of his own dreams.
Who are the unforgettable people in your life—those who made a difference and inspired you to become who you are today? Perhaps a more important question might be…who do you know who would say you are one of those unforgettable people (in a positive way) in their life? This is not a question intended to stroke your ego and puff you up with pride. It is a question about authenticity and intentionality in living a righteous life that glorifies our Father.
Unforgettable people don’t live for themselves. They are legacy-builders, not barn-builders. They understand that God has placed them here to display the glory of God as a conduit of blessing to others. May I be so presumptuous as to suggest three core characteristics of an unforgettable person? Wonderfully unforgettable people are:
- Humble: Everything in their life points to selfless service. They do not seek credit, glory or praise from others. They truly put the good of others above themselves.
- Authentic: There is little in an unforgettable, godly life that is phony or hypocritical… but should something hypocritical be uncovered, they will be the first to confess it when pointed out, ask for forgiveness, and truly seek to rectify the issue.
- People of Integrity: Integrity is all too often a rare quality in many people, which makes it so powerful in the unforgettable, godly life. Integrity means that what you see in public is who they are in private. They can be counted on to stay the course and remain steadfast in faith and practice. The apostle Paul said it this way: “The things you have received and learned and heard from me… and seen in me, put into practice.” (Phil. 4:9)
Will your name one day be listed among those truly unforgettable people that makes God’s greatness, goodness, and glory undeniable because you were willing to be used by God to bless the next generations? What are the things about the unforgettable people in your life that make them so unforgettable to you? Have you taken time to express your gratitude to them for their unforgettable impact?
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