I Hope They Say I Was Faithful
If I had to name one thing I hope people say about me, it would be this: he was faithful.
Not perfect. Not flawless. But faithful.
Faithful to my wife — loving her well, choosing her daily, and standing steady even when life wasn’t easy or tidy.
Faithful to my daughter — present, protective, and consistent, even when circumstances were complicated and the path wasn’t straight.
Faithful to Jesus Christ — sometimes unsure, often imperfect, but willing to follow, to listen, and to keep showing up.
I hope people say I showed up — honestly and intentionally. That I listened before I spoke. That when someone needed encouragement, clarity, or simply a steady presence, I didn’t rush past them on my way to something else.
I hope my students say they felt seen, not just taught — that I cared as much about who they were becoming as about what they were learning, and that I helped them understand the power of words and the responsibility that comes with them.
I hope my family says they were loved without condition and prioritized without question — that I was present in the big moments and faithful in the small, ordinary ones that matter just as much.
I hope people say I used my voice when it mattered — whether that meant writing, teaching, singing, or speaking truth gently when silence would have been easier.
I don’t need to be remembered as flashy or impressive.
If someone someday says, “He wasn’t perfect, but he was faithful,”
I think I’d be content knowing I lived the life I was trying to live.
Copyright © 2025 Doug DeBolt.
