Because my first job, from age 14 to 16, was landscaping and maintaining my hometown cemetery, I became acquainted with epitaphs at an earlier age than most. The declarations made on headstones by the deceased and/or their loved ones in my hometown ranged from spiritual and sentimental to somber and dry
One woman, whose name I can’t recall, died in the 1890s, and I still remember parts of the poem that her family had inscribed on her headstone: “Rest, mother, in quiet sleep, while friends and family together weep.”
Philip, a close childhood friend of mine, died far too young. I remember his epitaph because of how impactful it was to maintain my own friend’s grave: He lives in our memories and will forever.
My grandmother’s first child, who would have been my Aunt Anita, died just after her third birthday, and her epitaph was as short and sweet as her life on earth:
Epitaphs are powerful because they seem so final. How do you summarize a person’s life in just one line?
It really makes me wonder what words will belong on my headstone when the time comes. Based on my priorities and how I’m spending my time on earth, what will my epitaph be?
Most days, I live with this ever-present doubt that, no matter how much I get done, it’s never enough. I’ve often joked that my headstone will say, “Here lies Eric Huffman. He could’ve done more.”
But that’s just because I – like so many people I know – have too often believed the lie that it’s all up to me. Everything will be alright if I can ever manage to get everything done right (or so I tell myself). And if I don’t do everything right, that’s on me. The harsh reality about living this way is that, no matter how much you get done, how much time you spend with loved ones, how much money you give away, or how many good things you do, it will never feel like enough, and you’ll be stuck in the same old shame-spiral that says “I could’ve (or should’ve) done more.”
But when we look to the scriptures, it’s clear that we who follow Jesus have been liberated from the spiral of shame into a new way of living and thinking. For those who are in Christ, nothing is up to us anymore. It’s all up to Jesus, and he has already done more than enough to make every wrong thing right. Consider these passages from Paul’s second letter to Corinth:
“…our sufficiency is from God.” – 2 Cor. 3:5
But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. – 2 Cor. 12:9
And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work. – 2 Cor. 9:8
Jesus Christ, our all-sufficient Savior, has already accomplished all that is necessary to save the world. So why are we still beating ourselves up for not doing enough to save it?
When you think about your life and priorities, how would you summarize the time God has given you on this earth? If today was your last day, what would your epitaph say?
He tried?
She gave it all she had?
He could’ve done more?
God forbid. I pray that my headstone will read something like Paul’s final words to his young friend, Timothy:
I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.- 2 Tim. 4:7-8
Or even more to the point:
Here lies Eric Huffman. If Jesus saved him, he can save anyone.
Have you made the choice to trust in the all-sufficient grace that God has shown you in Christ? If so, how are your choices and priorities pointing to the trust you have in Him? If not, what are you waiting for? If you’re tired of everything being up to you, if this world and its deceptions have worn you down, if you’re sick of feeling like you could’ve or should’ve done more every day, come to Jesus, and let the sufficiency of his love cover you.
