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A legacy to be remembered
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Anonymous user Tue Aug 7, 2007 11:04:29 PDT
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0 responses 0 comments Everyone has a legacy — everyone leaves behind a memory of their life for others to carry on. 
On Aug. 20, 2004 Danielle Gould went home to be with Jesus at the age of 17. The night she died in a tragic car accident, the firemen first on the scene saw this verse written on her wrist: 
“Therefore show to them, and before churches the proof of your love and our boasting on your behalf.”
— 2 Corinthians 8:24
Danielle had been at a Bible study earlier that night, and she had a habit of writing Bible passages on her hands and arms as a way of helping her remember them. It’s interesting how this verse was written on her wrist that night and is now written on the hearts of many who knew and loved her —  and even on hearts of those who never met her.  You might say it’s a reminder to us all — a reminder to live each day to its fullest, to love God and to love people in His name.
You see, Danielle was the kind of person most of us want to be like. She loved Jesus, loved people, was beautiful inside and out, funny, yet she was serious too.  You might say, Danielle was a lot like Jesus. The passage in 2 Corinthians that Danielle had written on her wrist not only reminds us of her, but also of the call God has placed on each of our lives to show Jesus’ love every day. 
Danielle made it a habit to pray for her friends and to look for ways to share God’s love with them. She had a prayer cloth she wrote names of friends on who she would pray for. She would find joy in crossing off names from her cloth when a person came to know Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord. 
Danielle loved the color green. Due to the amazing legacy Danielle has left behind for us to carry on, we have made green bands with 2 Corinthians 8:24 on them. These bands can be purchased at Calvary Chapel Westbrook’s bookstore for $5. Funds from the bracelets go to the Danielle Marie Gould Legacy Scholarship at Liberty High School where Danielle would have graduated in 2005. 
This amazing young lady’s legacy does not end there. Danielle had a passion to live a pure and holy life. She had made a promise to Jesus and to her parents that she would live a life of sexual purity until her wedding night. Danielle’s passion for purity was not only for herself, but that all would desire to live a life that was pure and pleasing to our Lord Jesus Christ. 
Danielle’s passion may be another girl’s pain. So many girls live in pain due to the poor choices they may have made. The legacy Danielle left behind is a wonderful passion that I have the blessed opportunity to carry on. I want to share this opportunity and bring hope as a reminder that we have a forgiving God who loves us and that no matter what sins we have committed, Jesus does and will forgive us.  We too can live pure and holy lives pleasing to Him. 
As Danielle’s mother I have had an amazing opportunity to share my cherished daughter’s legacy and her passion with many women on the earthly death date of my daughter. I cannot think of a better way to spend a very painful day than to share my daughters passion and legacy with all in hopes that it reminds us of the importance to live each day as if it were our last. 
I personally invite and encourage all women to join us on Saturday,  Aug. 18, for our third annual “One girls passion … another girls pain” women’s purity event.  We will be sharing and offering everyone hope that all can make a choice to live pure and holy lives pleasing to our Lord Jesus Christ. Mothers are encouraged to attend with girls younger than high school age due to topics that will be discussed. 
For more information, call Calvary Chapel Westbrook at 397-6000.

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