Below are three real-life inheritance stories that speak of the importance of the legacy those who pass away leave behind. This legacy isn’t always material, sometimes it comes with lessons we never forget.

1. I inherited Grandma’s old clocks while my greedy brother took the house

My grandmother Marlene and I always shared a strong bond. She was the only person who supported me unconditionally and was always there when I needed her.

When she became really old and couldn’t take care of herself, I was there to help her around the house, which was the coziest place on earth. The rooms filled with vintage clocks gave the place unusual warmth and brought a sense of nostalgia.

was all by herself. My brother Brian was in town but he rarely visited her, always finding excuses.

One evening, I got a call from my grandma and the moment I heard her voice, my heart sank. She didn’t sound like her usual self. Telling me that she hadn’t have much time left, she asked me to visit her the following day.

I promised to be there as soon as possible, and a few days later, I found myself driving back home. When I knocked on my grandma’s door, my brother answered. He wasn’t happy to be there because he had always hated the house.

Knowing her time on Earth was coming to an end, she handed both of us an envelope with $5,000 inside. I was very appreciative of her gesture, hugged her, and thanked her for everything she had ever done for me. Brian on the other hand got angry. His face became even more serious that before. He accepted the cash unwillingly because he believed it wasn’t much money. He expected grandma to give him everything she had been saving throughout the years. He didn’t even say “thank you” before he stormed out of the house.

My grandma passed away peacefully in her sleep some days later. I spent the last days of her life by her side, reminding her how much I loved her and how much she meant to me.

At the will reading, Brian was given the house, and I received her clocks. Initially, I felt a pang of disappointment, but then the lawyer handed me a note from Grandma. She wrote that those clocks were worth a little fortune, over $200,000.