A Light That Still Shines

Remembering "Mr. Carl" Long and the Legacy of a Faithful Life

“Let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.”  Matthew 5:16

Some people leave behind possessions. Others leave behind accomplishments. But the greatest legacy we can leave is a life that points others toward Jesus.

That is the kind of legacy that Mr. Carl, left behind.

Mr. Carl was my father-in-law, but he was much more than that to me. He was Daddy to my late wife, Glenda, and Grandaddy to our girls. He was a South Georgia pecan farmer, a hardworking provider, a faithful churchman, a servant to his community, and most importantly, a man who loved and followed the Lord.

He wasn’t a man who needed recognition or attention. His faith was demonstrated through the way he lived. Day after day, year after year, he simply remained faithful.

A Faith That Could Be Seen

Jesus tells us in Matthew 5:16 to let our light shine so that others might see our good works and ultimately glorify our Father in heaven.

Mr. Carl lived that kind of faith.

My mind is full of so many memories of him living out his faith. The way he led his family at home with prayer, scripture and loving guidance. The way he served his church as a deacon, Bible study leader and a singer in the choir. The way he served his community by serving in community groups and helping the needy. The way he would serve in the nursing home by leading the worship time on Sunday mornings by singing hymns with them. I watched the way he worked hard as a farmer to provide for his family. 

His Christianity wasn’t something reserved for Sunday morning. You could see it in the way he worked. You could see it in the way he provided for his family. You could see it in the way he served his church and community. You could see it in the way he treated people.

And you could certainly see it in the way he loved his family.

Glenda was a daddy’s girl. She loved her dad deeply, and he loved her. There is something special about the relationship between a father and his daughter, and I had the privilege of watching the influence Mr. Carl had on Glenda. When she passed away after her battle with breast cancer, I could see the sadness and grief that he bore but he also had a steadfast confidence that she was in eternity with Jesus. He had an unshakable hope in the promises of God's word. His influence on her life was the reason she developed her own strong faith and belief in God for her own eternal salvation. 

Our girls knew him as Grandaddy. And while generations change and years pass, the influence of a godly grandfather doesn’t simply disappear. It becomes part of the family story. The memories that will remain for them include learning how to fish with a cain pole on the farm. Learning how to drive in the pecan groves in his pickup truck. Watching him sing special music at church.  Helping him cook in the kitchen. These are special memories that my girls will forever cherish.

Lessons From a Farmer

I’ve thought about how fitting it is that Mr. Carl was a pecan farmer. Farmers understand something about life that the rest of us sometimes forget: the most important things take time.

You prepare the soil.

You plant.

You cultivate.

You work.

You wait.

And eventually, you see the fruit or the nuts in his case. 

A pecan tree doesn’t become strong overnight. Its roots grow deep long before its branches stretch high. Through hot South Georgia summers, storms, changing seasons, and passing years, the tree keeps growing.

A faithful life is much the same.

Mr. Carl spent a lifetime planting seeds sometimes without even realizing he was doing it.

He planted seeds of faith.

He planted seeds of integrity.

He planted seeds of hard work.

He planted seeds of humility.

He planted seeds of service.

He planted seeds of love for family.

And today, the man who planted those seeds may no longer be standing among us, but the fruit is still growing. I see some of it in our girls. And I see some of it in myself.

What He Taught Me

When I married Glenda, I gained more than a father-in-law. God placed another man in my life who would quietly teach me something about being a husband, a father, and a follower of Christ.

Mr. Carl taught me that leading your family well isn’t primarily about giving instructions. It’s about setting an example.

He showed me that providing for your family is about more than earning a living. It is about being present, dependable, loving, and faithful.

He taught me that Christian leadership doesn’t require a platform. 

Sometimes it looks like getting up early and going to work.

Sometimes it looks like serving your church when nobody is watching.

Sometimes it looks like helping a neighbor.

Sometimes it looks like loving your wife and children faithfully.

Sometimes it simply means doing the right thing, again and again, for a lifetime. That’s leadership. That’s faithfulness. And that’s letting your light shine.

The Light Still Shines

There comes a day when every farmer walks away from his fields for the last time.

There comes a day when the work is finished, the tools are put away, and another generation carries on.

But something remains.

What was planted.

That’s what I think about when I remember Mr. Carl.

The farmer may have finished his work, but the seeds he planted are still producing fruit. His influence continues through his daughters, and it continues through his grand kids and great grand kids.  It continues through the people he served. And it continues through those of us who watched his life and learned from his example.

Jesus said, “Let your light shine before others.”

Mr. Carl did.

And because he did, that light didn’t disappear when his earthly life ended. It simply passed to another generation. Now it is our responsibility to carry it.

To love our families well.

To work faithfully.

To serve humbly.

To help our neighbors.

To remain devoted to Christ.

And to shine His light wherever God places us.

Because someday, someone will remember the way we lived too. May they be able to say of us what I can say about Mr. Carl:

He loved his family.

He served others.

He worked hard.

He walked humbly.

He remained faithful.

And he showed us Jesus.

Prayer

Father, thank You for the gift of faithful people who show us what it looks like to follow You through the way they live.

Thank You for Mr. Carl. For the husband, father, Grandad, farmer, servant, and man of faith that he was. Thank You for the seeds he planted in his family, his church, his community, and in my own life.

Help us carry forward the things he taught us. Give us strength to work faithfully, humility to serve quietly, courage to stand firm in our faith, and wisdom to lead our families well.

Most of all, help us shine the light of Christ wherever You place us, so that when our work here is finished, those who come behind us will know that we loved You and lived for You.

May the seeds we plant today bear fruit for generations to come.

In Jesus’ name, Amen.

We love you Mr Carl and will miss you greatly!

Reflection

What am I planting today that will still be producing fruit after I am gone?

Think about the people God has placed in your life. What will they remember about your faith, your character, your love, and the way you served others?

And perhaps most importantly:

Will the people who know me best be able to say that they saw the light of Jesus in me?

With Unshakable Hope!

Scott

Still, I Will! Ministries