If I die young bury me in satin
Lay me down on a bed of roses
Sink me in the river at dawn
Send me away with the words of a love song
Uh oh uh oh
Lord make me a rainbow, I’ll shine down on my mother
She’ll know I’m safe with you when
She stands under my colours, oh and
Life ain’t always what you think it oughta be, no
Ain’t even grey, but she buries her baby
The sharp knife of a short life,
Well, I’ve had just enough time
She’ll know I’m safe with you when
She stands under my colours, oh and
Life ain’t always what you think it oughta be, no
Ain’t even grey, but she buries her baby
The sharp knife of a short life,
Well, I’ve had just enough time
-Lyrics from “If I Die Young” as performed by The Band Perry
If I die young… This song, it is completely beautiful in melody and lyrics. It is a song that always makes me sing and makes me think. What would happen if I died young?
I’ve been thinking a lot of this topic lately, throughout the summer. As we’ve attended weddings, celebrations, parties. As we prepare to welcome new lives in our families and as we’ve said good-byes. As we struggle with really hard choices and enjoy lots of simple pleasures such as sticky Popsicle hands and dirt covered knees.
If I die young, what do I leave behind?
What would my legacy be?
First and foremost, know that I am in heaven. I believe that I will leave this life for a much better one and will be with all those I love and have been loved by. Heaven is a wonderful place and I want to go there! I’m not afraid to die because I’ll be in the presence of my King. Grace is the greatest gift I’ve ever been given.
Please know that I love my life and am not planning to leave it anytime soon, but I don’t control the world (thank goodness!)
If I die young, I leave behind a husband and the three most beautiful children I’ve ever created. I leave behind a farm and job I love. I leave behind a community that is my home.
Please tell my kids, that above all, my greatest gift in life, what I loved most, was their dad. He is my everything. He gave me a life beyond my wildest dreams. He provided for his family with every fiber of his being. He loves deeply and wholly and without fear. I am beyond honored to stand beside him, both in this life and the next. I am so proud to be his wife and vow my life to him.
Please tell my children that I am proud of them. I am proud of them for simply being good people. They don’t have to do anything to win my love, to make me happy. If they become doctors or construction workers or farmers or billionaires, I am proud. If they are football stars, amazing artists, or make straight D’s, I’m proud of them. No matter the choices they make in life, every thing they do, I will claim them as mine. I will always want them. I will always love them.
If I die young I wonder what will be remembered about me. I haven’t accomplished any major feats. I’m not overly skilled or talented at any thing. I haven’t touched thousands of lives with mine. I haven’t “done” anything. But I hope that the things I live behind are lessons to my children and others. I hope that I have chosen love first. I hope I have showed kindness to all. I hope I have lived humbly and given encouragement to others. I want to spread Passion, living it, breathing it, doing it. I pray that my legacy will be remembered in how I treat people.
If I die young, don’t bury me (it takes up too much possible park space, right Dad?), put me in a firework, and set me off at sunset. Send me away with laughter and cheers. Lord, make me a rainbow to shine down on my mother, a gentle rain for my sister, a sunbeam for my husband and a breeze for my babies. I haven’t had enough time, but the time I’ve had is perfect. I will be with each of you again.
Happy Harvesting,
Leah
Harvesting Roots 
Please don’t die young we all need you too much but your words are beautiful and exactly how I want to be remembered.
God has made you and loved you. I am blessed to have you in my life. And when I die “old”, cause I am already there …you remember how much this Aunt loved you.