How will people remember you? The same way they think of you now.

It’s a morbid though, I know. No one want to think about death.

But the reality is it will happen. As you get older, you think of it more. Those of us who have lost parents or who are caregivers for elderly parents think about it. You can’t help it because the reminder is always there.

Yet today I’m not thinking of death as much as I’m thinking of people. Who we are, how we behave. What makes some people kind while others are not? What makes some people angry while others are calm? What makes some people selfish while others are giving?

The truth is, we all have elements of our personalities that need improving. The other truth is that a lot of people simply don’t care how others perceive them.

Will people miss you when you’re gone? Will they have fond memories of you and your time together? Or will they be unaffected or worse yet, relieved when you’ve passed from this life?

That’s a harsh question, but it bears repeating. Will people be relieved when you pass from this life? Are you so obnoxious or overbearing or hard to get along with that your very presence in a room saps the life out of everyone else? Are you the type that uses sarcasm to bring others down to the point they don’t want to have a conversation with you? Do people avoid you?

Maybe you don’t care about how others think of you or how they will remember you. But if you do, maybe you (and I) would benefit from examining how we behave now. How we treat others. The words we say, the things we do.

If we strive to be kinder, more helpful, less temperamental, more caring, not only will others notice, they will feel fortunate to have us as a friend or family member. We will enrich their lives instead of tearing them apart. We will be better husbands, wives, children, parents, co-workers, fellow church members, club members, etc. Our presence in this world will make a positive difference instead of a negative one.

And we will be remembered in a good way. Something to think about.