Love Christ, Love Others

A Legacy Worth Carrying Forward

My father meant a great deal to me. He introduced me to many of the things I love most in life; baseball, football, hunting, and fishing. Some of my favorite memories are tied to those simple moments we shared together: being outdoors, learning something new, and spending time side by side.

But the greatest thing my father ever introduced me to was our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

My dad wasn’t the type of person who felt the need to preach to others about how they should live. Instead, he believed the best way to share his faith was through the way he lived his life. He showed kindness, humility, and a willingness to help others whenever he could. His faith wasn’t something he talked about loudly, it was something you could see in his actions every single day.

In October of 2024, my father had an accident on his boat dock that ended his time here on Earth. Losing him was one of the hardest moments of my life. Like anyone who has lost someone they love, I found myself reflecting on who he was, what he stood for, and the impact he had on everyone around him.

While going through his belongings, our family and pastor found something that stopped us in our tracks.

Inside his Bible was a simple sketch he had drawn. It was a cross, and next to it were four words:

Love Christ. Love Others.

That was it. No long explanation. No elaborate message. Just four simple words that perfectly captured the way my father lived his life.

When we shared that sketch with friends and family, something unexpected happened. Those four words resonated with people. They spread among friends, conversations started, and the message began making an impact far beyond what my father probably ever imagined when he first drew it.

The more I thought about it, the more I realized something powerful:
those four words are the legacy my father left behind.

A legacy of faith.
A legacy of compassion.
A legacy of helping your fellow man.

My father didn’t set out to build a movement or create a message that others would rally around. He simply tried to live each day the way Christ calls us to live, loving God and loving others.

And maybe that’s exactly why it resonates.

Today, I want to share his message with you.

Not because it’s complicated or profound, but because it’s simple and true.

Love Christ. Love Others.

If we live by those words, truly live by them, we can make a difference in the lives of the people around us.

My hope is that this message continues to spread, not for my sake, but in honor of my father and the example he set. I hope it encourages people to live with faith, to serve others, and to carry forward the mission he quietly lived out every day.

This is how we carry on his legacy.

And I hope you’ll join us on that journey.

- Matt Courson

Matthew 22: 37-39