Legacy

"Grandchildren are the crowning glory of the aged; parents are the pride of their children." 
~ Proverbs 17:6 (New Living Translation)

My husband and I recently returned from an out-of-state trip to meet our first grandchild ~ an amazingly beautiful baby girl. Both of us were overcome with a myriad of emotions ~ love, pride, thankfulness, joy ~ the list goes on. We stared in wonder at this tiny human that God carefully and lovingly created inside our daughter.

As we drove home I began to think about our granddaughter’s future. The realization swept over me that one day my husband and I would be but a memory in her mind and heart. I began to think about this next season of life and the window of opportunity we have to pour into her young life. What type of legacy would we leave her? What would we like her to know deep in her bones about what her grandparents believed in and stood for?

Legacy. Google shares that a personal legacy means to “put a stamp on the future, to make a contribution to future generations, and to provide a vision that directs those tiny decisions that make up who you are.” Google goes on to say that we can leave a legacy to family members by recording family traditions and stories, writing down family recipes, passing along skills, starting a family tree, and collecting a montage of family photos.

I believe our legacy goes much deeper. For my husband and me, our relationship with Jesus Christ, our commitment to marriage and family, and our desire to serve and love people are the legacy we would like to leave behind for our granddaughter.

As you think about your own life and those you love, start with the end in mind. What would you like them to say, to feel, and to remember when you are no longer here? It’s those tiny decisions you make each day ~ in the small, mundane moments ~ that direct your life and shape your legacy.

It is never too late. At any time you can change the trajectory of your life and the impact of your legacy. What decision can you make today to leave a legacy that inspires, encourages, and leaves a smile on your loved ones’ faces? What are your values and core beliefs about yourself, others, the world, and your Creator?

Recipes may be lost, photographs can fade, and family traditions and stories lose their impact over time. Faith in Christ, commitment to family, and a mission to serve people stand the test of time. Legacy.