My friend Mike Oldham told me about a wonderful story that aired on Jane Pauley’s “Sunday Morning” show on October 6, 2019. I watched it on cbs.com. Here’s the story:

Dennis Valstad of Ripon, Wisconsin, a town of fewer than 8,000 people, died recently at age 65. He had no wife or kids and owned one of the town’s dry cleaners. 

Dennis was perceived as a loner of modest means yet 270 people attended his funeral at Immanuel Methodist Church. That’s a lot of people to attend a funeral. Here’s the kicker: his will specified that each person who attended his funeral get an equal share of his $500,000 estate! (It came to just over $1850 per person!)

Of course, no one who attended the funeral knew that in advance. They attended because he “was endlessly kind.” His executor also shared that among his New Year’s resolutions for this year were:

• Live a life pleasing to God
• Find true friends

It sounds like he accomplished his resolutions! And as Matthew Kelly writes in The Biggest Lie in the History of Christianity, “There is nothing more attractive than holiness.”

[Jesus said, ] “Here’s another way to put it: You’re here to be light, bringing out the God-colors in the world. God is not a secret to be kept. We’re going public with this, as public as a city on a hill. If I make you light-bearers, you don’t think I’m going to hide you under a bucket, do you? I’m putting you on a light stand. Now that I’ve put you there on a hilltop, on a light stand—shine! Keep open house; be generous with your lives. By opening up to others, you’ll prompt people to open up with God, this generous Father in heaven.” (Matthew 5.14 – 16, MSG)

And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. (Colossians 3.17, ESV)