I woke up this morning contemplating and celebrating 54 years on this planet. Wow. December 11, 1962. I am 54. So I’m thinking… What will my Legacy be? What will I do in this next year to grow personally and to help make others better? How will I be intentional? I know Living a Legacy is possible. In fact, Leaving a Legacy is guaranteed.
We All Have an Expiration Date
One day we will all breathe our last breath. One day our heart will beat its final time. One day this physical body will be nothing more than an empty shell. It is deteriorating and will eventually die. That’s a promise.
It is appointed to man to die once, then stand before our maker. What type of Legacy will you leave behind? What will others remember about you?
Growing Up
I’ve often pondered the influence that my parents had in my life, the man and woman that raised me in those formidable years. Yeah. They stayed together through all the peaks and valleys. They stayed together when life was tough. They weathered the storms and recently celebrated 55 years of marriage. Good job momma and daddy.
They taught me, Kristi and Adam many life lessons. They were also some things that they didn’t teach us. They didn’t teach us how: To lie. To steal. To cheat. To violate others. To show favoritism. To be a racist. They taught us to be: Responsible. Honest. Trustworthy. Dependable. They taught us to be on time. To tell the truth. To honor your word. To treat all people equal. They taught us that to love unconditionally can be a reality. They taught us that we were valued and special. They taught us that talent and giftedness had an expiration date BUT living a life of integrity would last.
I learned that money didn’t define you. I learned that your your level of education did not have to determine your destination in life. I learned that working hard to provide for your family was honorable. I learned that a stay at home mom that showered affection and on her family was not inferior because she had no income. I came to realize that these values prepared my heart to understand God’s love in a tangible way. Mom and Dad were living a Legacy and will leave a powerful Legacy for future generations.
Dad’s health has been brutal for the last five years. He has had open heart surgery, back surgery, battled infections, fought diabetes, just to mention a few.
My Sister Had This to Say
Our Daddy has such a love for us. We have done things he doesn’t approve of but he doesn’t stop loving us. Our Heavenly Father is the same. But I know my Daddy has provided for us to his best ability. He has this crippling back pain today because of how hard he worked to provide for us. Daddy has always been an awesome provider. We are very fortunate. What a Legacy.
Ponder This
A Godly legacy begins when we are intentional parents who create a home that honors God. Here are a few keys:
- Provide a safe environment in which deep emotional roots can grow.
- Foster confidence through having a stable home.
- Communicate a voice of trusting support.
- Nurture a strong sense of healthy identity.
- Create a “resting place” for the soul.
- Demonstrate unconditional love.
One of My Favorite Examples
Dennis Rainey shared these thoughts years ago that are worth pondering. Have you ever heard of Jonathan and Sarah Edwards?
Jonathan felt God’s call to minister. He and his young bride began a pastorate in a small congregation. During the years that followed, he was influential in beginning the Great Awakening. They produced eleven children who grew into adulthood.
Sarah was a partner in her husband’s ministry, and he sought her advice regarding sermons and church matters. They spent time talking about these things together, and, when their children were old enough, the parents included the children in the discussions.
The impact of the Edwards’s lives have been far-reaching, but the most measurable results of their faithfulness to God’s call is found through their descendants. Here is a brief look at the Edwards Legacy:
- 100 lawyers and a dean of a law school
- 80 holders of public office
- 66 physicians and a dean of a medical school
- 65 professors of colleges and universities
- 30 judges
- 13 college presidents
- 3 mayors of large cities
- 3 governors of states
- 3 United States senators
- 1 controller of the United States Treasury
- 1 Vice President of the United States