Life well spent today will be the testimonies of tomorrow after death, the more reason we should live life deliberately and purposefully making impacts and positively influencing people because it will all be a testimony even after crossing to the great beyond. The truth is that every human being will be taken to record of the sojourn here on earth either good or bad based on how each lived life while still being here on earth. Many ways has been devised in expressing this testimonies/records either in writing or spoken forms like tributes, condolence registers, epitaphs etc.
Epitaph is an inscription on a gravestone in memory of a deseased either for the good done (most times) or the bad done as the case may be. One of the best epitaph i have seen is that of Rev Martin Luther King Jr (who was a famous leader in America known for his civil right movements) which says "Free at last, free at last, I'm free at last" who fought for freedom and emancipation of his people. Also, the epitaph of the famous pop singer Micheal Jackson reveals some of the great accomplishments he has achieved with him been humanitarian mentioned aswell.
Here in Nigeria, epitaph isn't a new thing as old grave yards has epitaphs especially in orthodox churches graveyard and also for national heros e.g. fallen soldiers, past government officials/leaders, prominent personalities etc. Tributes, biblical verses, memorials etc are inscribed on the grave with some adding pictures and date to it. For example, the grave of the late sage Chief Obafemi Awolowo, that of the music icon Fela Anikulapo Kuti, Prophet T.B. Joshua and fallen soldiers all have unique epitaphs.
Most times in Nigeria, the epitaph include "In loving memory of" or what the person is or stands for.
I have seen some funny epitaphs especially that of people with not so good character or those who lived life with negative imparts on people because epitaphs are written by those alive and not the dead itself unless wrote it before he or she dies. For me, i would love to have this simple but inspiring epitaph "In loving memory of a man who loved and served God, family, humanity and his generation in the fear of God with all things he was blessed with." This i believed is the whole essense of we humans because a life lived for oneself only without others involved isn't good enough.
In all, what i find interesting in epitaphs is that everything we do today is going on a record for tomorrow. We should just try and live a life which can be of good testimonies tomorrow.
This is my participation post in #Aprilinleo monthly prompt for day 6 by the #inleo. Check out this announcement post to get involved and you will be glad you do.