Leaving Your Legacy

While reading Proverbs 31 I took notice of verse one. "The words of King Lemuel, the oracle which his mother taught him." On May 9th my mother in-law went home to be with Jesus. I am privileged to have known Mom for over 25 years and to have learned much from her in that time. I imagine that King Lemuel also learned much from his mother, more than just what we read in this Proverb. However, the advice given encourages this son to be ethical, discerning, sober and compassionate. There seems to be no way to know if the King's mother was alive as he shared these words. It probably is not important. If she were living, he recited what he knew from his mother's teachings. If she were dead; he remembered well what she had taught. This made me think about the legacy we will each leave behind. What will our children, grandchildren and friends remember about us? I have some random ideas floating around in my head so I will just share them with you. I hope that today you will consider the legacy you leave behind. And some unique ways you can leave that legacy for your family to remember you by.

1) The Christmas after my husband's grandfather passed away, each family member received a copy of Pop's journal. Nothing too personal was in the journal. Just a daily inventory of what he had done. Sometimes it simply read "went to store." Still, it is a precious gift.

2) Three years ago we celebrated Dad's 80th birthday and Mom and Dad's 60th Anniversary. My niece is incredibly good with technology. She produced a beautiful DVD of my in-law's life together. Full of great pictures and great songs, this is a treasure to Dave and me. I have not watched since Mom's homegoing but I know it is there when I need to remember.

3) My niece is also researching her roots on an ancestry website. I know that a few years back she sat with my mother and father in-law and video taped them answering her questions about family and their memories. Unfortunately, she is also working on restoring that after her computer crashed! OH, NO!

4) While working at a local Christian bookstore a customer came in every year to purchase a new Bible. She had eight grandchildren. Her project was to use a new Bible each year with one grandchild in mind. As she read through the Bible in a year, had her devotions, and took notes from church she prayerfully would highlight verses she wanted that child to know. She would write notes in the margins to that grandchild and write prayers on the inside covers. On that grandchild's 18th birthday they would receive their Bible from Grandma.

5) There are books available that ask pointed questions so that you can write your personal history. From "What is your favorite color?" to "How did you come to know Jesus?" questions are asked with a space for you to provide your story.

6) Although only a thought, I have been thinking about writing letters to my children. They are not walking with the Lord. What if I don't live to see them come to Jesus? What would I want to tell them?

7) Marilyn Heavilin, author, speaker and friend of America's Keswick, loves to write her prayers in a journal. BUT, I heard her say that at year's end she destroys her prayer journals so nothing too personal gets published! Share only what you would want them to know! Not every detail needs to be shared. Use your discernment.

These are just some ideas on how you might leave your teachings, beliefs and history as a gift to your loved ones. What legacy do you desire to leave? What legacy have you been given? While discussing this with Stephanie Paul, she noted how important it is for us to remember what we have been taught. Even if your parents were not Christians what did they teach you that was good? All too often we hear about how our parents did us wrong. Maybe we need to recall what they did right.

"How important it is to share with our children our own personal scrapbook of the faithfulness of God - the different ways He has led us, provided for us, and sheltered us. Our children need to hear again and again our gratitude to God for His gifts of friends and family and the awesome privilege of freedom. Then they, too, will come to depend upon Him personally, knowing He will also be ever faithful to them. Remember ...and tell it to your children and your children's children." Footprints of a Pilgrim by Ruth Bell Graham

Blessings,
Kathy

Kathy's on staff at America's KESWICK in the Development Department. Kathy has been married to her husband Dave for 25 years. They have two adult children. Kathy is active in her local church and has previously served as a Teaching Director for Community Bible Study. Her passion is to encourage women to deepen their walk with Jesus Christ by finding and living out the truths of God's Word.
DIGGING DEEPER

James 3:2-6
2 For we all stumble in many ways. And if anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle his whole body.
3 If we put bits into the mouths of horses so that they obey us, we guide their whole bodies as well.
4 Look at the ships also: though they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are guided by a very small rudder wherever the will of the pilot directs.
5 So also the tongue is a small member, yet it boasts of great things. How great a forest is set ablaze by such a small fire!
6 And the tongue is a fire, a world of unrighteousness. The tongue is set among our members,staining the whole body, setting on fire the entire course of life, and set on fire by hell.