Strange the thoughts you awaken to each morning. Today I awakened with the word “legacy” in mind. I believe this was due to several who have died recently. From various comments made by relatives, they were left with land, money, cattle, houses, and mineral rights. They are very fortunate to have been left behind many material possessions, but never did I hear of a lasting legacy left behind to their children. In fact, some of these people are now threatening to go to court with one another over wills.
“Certainly it is important to work hard for your children, but if the only legacy you can give them is money, it is a poor legacy indeed.” ~ Beardsley
“Leave a spiritual legacy in your family, or you leave no legacy at all.” ~ Unknown
What is a lasting legacy? It is leaving behind Biblical values which are timeless and place our children’s feet firmly on the path to heaven. Whether we leave behind money or not, timeless values from His Word never changes.
“We will not hide them from their children, shewing to the generation to come the praises of the Lord, and His strength, and His wonderful works that He hath done.”
Psalm 78:4
“And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might. And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.” Deuteronomy 6:5-7
“But the mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear Him, and his righteousness unto children’s children; To such as keep His covenant and to those that remember his commandments to do them.” Psalm 103:17-18
While reading and researching this article I came across a very sad story. A legacy left behind by a famous singer many know about. He was never a favorite of mine, but many did love his music.
“When James Brown died on Christmas Day 2006, he left behind a fortune worth tens, maybe hundreds, of millions of dollars. The problem is, he also left behind fourteen children, sixteen grandchildren, eight mothers of his children, several mistresses, thirty lawyers, a former manager, an aging dancer, a longtime valet, and a sister who’s really not a sister but calls herself the Godsister of Soul anyway. All of whom want a piece of his legacy.”
“He told me a long time ago, all the friends he got he could count on one hand.” Mr. Washington says. That’s hard on a man, makes him lonely. Sometimes Mr. Washington almost pitied him, though he’d never use that word, because Mr. Brown wouldn’t take pity. “He was, like, missing something.” Mr. Washington says. “He had everything in this world, but it was like…..just something missing. Some kind of happiness.”
Now in contrast is the legacy of a faithful Gospel preacher.
“A ‘legacy’ is the sum total of all the years of a human life as it affects the lives of those who are its heirs: all the good, all the bad, all the material, all the moral, all the spiritual. In death, the departed says to the remaining: ‘Here is my life. Every thought and every attitude, every motive and every deed. This is my legacy; this is your inheritance. This is the final distillation of my love for you.’”
“What can our own children say of us when we live only in their memory? Each of us is putting together the legacy which will be our true monument in the hearts of those we love. Will my sons and my daughter stand taller and nobler before God and men because of me? Are money and cattle and houses and land enough to leave our children? They may be glad to get such things unearned, but neither respect nor love can be thus purchased. The best way to say “I love you!” is to bring our children’s feet step by step nearer heaven while we can. A child’s tenderest memory is of a Heaven-bound parent.” ~ A. O. Raney
Only in Christ can our legacy be found. Leave behind a good legacy.
“Please think about your legacy, because you’re writing it every day.” ~ Vaynerchuck
“We will be known forever by the tracks we leave.” ~ Proverb
Eileen Light