"My Legacy..."

 

In a small town, there lived a man named Samuel, a quiet soul with no family or friends left. He bore the scars of a traumatic accident—both physical and emotional—yet carried them with dignity. The scar on his head, a constant reminder of his brush with death, was hidden beneath his old caps, though not out of shame, but to avoid the world’s cruel judgments.

Samuel lived alone, yet his solitude wasn’t lonely. His faith in God and a dream he carried within his heart had sustained him for years. His dream was to start a garden—a garden that would bloom with life and legacy. The orchids, in particular, were special. His parents, now long gone, loved orchids, and to him, they symbolized endurance, beauty, and love. Every morning, he’d sit with a cup of coffee, thinking of how this garden would contribute to the community—half of the produce would go to orphanages and old age homes, and the other half he’d sell to cover his modest needs.

Samuel’s life wasn’t easy. After the accident that had taken away his ability to speak and remember, he had to rebuild himself, facing the world’s whispers and judgmental gazes. "A man who looks like that can’t be normal," they’d say, but Samuel knew better. He embraced his scars as part of his identity. Every inch of his life was stitched with the thread of resilience, faith, and the will to give back.

Despite everything, Samuel’s heart remained open. He visited the orphanage regularly, not just to give material things but to share his wisdom. To the children, Samuel was a hero. He taught them not to fear their scars—whether visible or hidden—and to embrace them as badges of courage. They called him "the wise gardener," though his garden had yet to blossom.

One cold December, Samuel decided that this Christmas would be different. The garden had started to take shape—small sprouts of life were beginning to break through the earth. It was his legacy, and though he knew he wouldn’t see its full bloom, he found peace in knowing that it would continue long after he was gone.

On Christmas Eve, Samuel donned his Santa cap, as he did every year, and visited the orphanage. He brought small gifts for the children, just as he had done in years past. But this time, he had something else—a promise. He handed each child a small packet of seeds, telling them that these seeds came from his garden. He asked them to plant them in the orphanage’s courtyard, explaining that when the garden flourished, they would have their legacy to pass on.

That night, after returning home, Samuel felt a deep sense of fulfilment. His work was done, and his dream set in motion. He lay down in his small room, surrounded by pictures of his parents, their favourite orchids, and a single Bible verse framed on the wall: "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith."

As the snow fell quietly outside, Samuel passed away in his sleep, his heart content, his soul at peace. The next morning, the children found a note in the courtyard beside the newly planted seeds. It read: “A good death is its own reward.”

The children planted the seeds, and as they grew into a vibrant, beautiful garden, Samuel’s legacy bloomed with them. His name became known not for his scars, but for his heart and the life he left behind—a life that had endured, blossomed, and given back to the world.

Never forget your legacy...

God Bless Us All...

Jacob M