Legacy

 

“At the end of life what really matters is not what we bought, but what we built; not what we got, but what we shared; not our competence, but our character; and not our success, but our significance.  Live a life that matters.  Live a life of love.” ~ Author Unknown

 

 

With the loss of friends, during these past few months, the importance of leaving a legacy has been fresh on my mind.  Shared stories and memories were sweet reminders that what one invests in others will live on after they are gone.  Then a dear friend wrote and shared a poem that expresses the influence, impact, and gift of legacies.

When our son, Brad, was in the Corps at Texas A & M, one of his buddies was asked, “If you could have dinner with anyone, who would it be and why?”  After a pause, he replied: “My great grandson, so I could see how my legacy has been passed on.”   It’s never too early to begin to think about, act on, and intentionally build the legacy that one wants to leave behind for future generations. 

 

 

"Legacy"

~ Tamara Harbert

 

Familiar eyes, familiar faces,

In pictures taken in familiar places.

Those sweet souls who have gone before,

Surround me, but in life no more.

 

Now behind glass in wooden frames,

Is my own cloud of witnesses sharing a name.

When burdens are great and I fall behind,

Their steady gaze says “you’re doing just fine”.

 

My audience has a front row seat,

To our daily victories and defeats-

And when I’m convinced I can’t get it right,

I see them and think – “you did, so can I”.

 

The map that they left won’t lead me astray,

Just walk with the Father day after day.

And someday in heaven, I hope they will see.

The evidence of their legacy.

 

Each generation that follows the last,

Leaves new footprints, a guide from the past.

So as you’re walking make sure to take heed,

Your children’s children will follow your lead.

 

 

In the song, “Find us Faithful,” Steve Green challenges us:

 

O may all who come behind us

Find us faithful,

May the fire of our devotion

Light their way.

May the footprints that we leave,

Lead them to believe,

And the lives we live

Inspire them to obey.

O may all who come behind us

Find us faithful.

 

When it’s all said and done, may our legacy be that our relationship with Jesus is what made a difference in the way we chose to love, encourage, give to, and invest in others.  And may those who come behind us find us faith full.

 

 

But the plans of the LORD stand firm forever,

     the purposes of his heart through all generations.

Psalm 33:11

 

Even when I am old and gray,

     do not forsake me, my God,

till I declare your power to the next generation,

     your mighty acts to all who are to come.

Psalm 71:18

 

I will sing of the LORD’s great love forever;

     with my mouth I will make your faithfulness known

     through all generations.

Psalm 89:1

Father's Day 2021

 

“TRAIN UP a child in the way he should go

- but be sure you go that way yourself.”

~ Charles Spurgeon

 

 

On Larry’s most recent birthday, our sons shared memories of Larry from their childhood to now.  What a blessing to hear and see the ways they recognized and were impacted by the ways he chose to honor God and intentionally parent.

 

* Passed down heritage, through stories and pictures, of family members we weren’t able to know

* Led family devotions and prayer each night

* During Easter, being in “Celebration of Life” together at Tallowood

* Put notes in our school lunch (Along with the notes, Larry included a scripture each day.  The kids who sat at their table asked to read them, too, so they also had the benefit of an encouraging note and scripture each day.)

* Let Mom save our toys and books so our kids could enjoy and play with them

* Went to our ball games, church and school programs, field trips

* Took us on mission trips

* Helped us learn how to mow the grass  (When the boys started mowing lawns for other people, Larry would go with them the first time to help them understand what was expected at each house and answer questions.)

* Offers wisdom to make a good decision

* Knows who to call and where to park

* Taught us how to tie a tie and other life skills at a young age

* Went with us on RA campouts, even when it rained

* Models his faith

* Let us hang out with the big kids, when we were growing up (Larry was the Minster to Youth)

* Prays for us every day (When the boys were growing up, Larry would kneel by each of their beds and pray for them before they woke for the day.  Many a morning, seeing Larry praying was their first sight of the day.)

* Baptized us after we became a Christian

* Always available to help with moving

* Performed our wedding ceremonies

* Has carried on a legacy of faith now being passed down to another generation

 

Each day, may we, too, choose to be intentional about the legacy we want to leave behind.

 

 

Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old they will not turn from it.

Proverbs 22:6

 

Children are a heritage from the Lord, offspring a reward from him. Like arrows in the hands of a warrior are children born in one’s youth. Blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them.

Psalm 127:3-4

 

Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.

Deuteronomy 6:4-7

Inspirational Thoughts

 

“Don’t shine so others can see you.  Shine so that through you others can see Him.”

~ C.S. Lewis

 

 

Although no one can go back and make

a brand new start, anyone can start

from now and make a brand new ending.

~ Carl Bard

 

 

“You are free to choose, but you are not free from the consequences of your choice.”

~ Ezra Taft Benson

 

 

David’s brothers saw a shepherd.

God saw a king.

Let God define you and not others.

 

 

“To pray, ‘thy will be done.’ I must be willing, if the answer requires it, that my will be undone.”

~Elisabeth Elliot

 

 

The best way to get things

Done

is to simply

Begin

 

“Love is the willing, joyful desire to put the welfare of others above our own.”

~ John MacArthur

 

 

Always pray to have eyes to see the best in people,

a heart that forgives the worst,

a mind that forgets the bad,

and a soul that never loses faith in God.

 

 

“God let your voice become the loudest one I hear and the one I’m most sensitive to.”

~ Brittney Chan

 

 

ALWAYS GIVE WITHOUT REMEMBERING

AND

ALWAYS RECEIVE WITHOUT FORGETTING.

 

 

“We tend to view the goal as the goal, but in God’s economy, the process is the goal.  It’s not about WHAT we’re doing at all; it’s about who we are becoming in the process.”

~ Mark Batterson

 

 

Leave footprints of love and kindness wherever you go.

 

 

“Hardships often prepare ordinary people for an extraordinary destiny.”

~ C.S. Lewis

 

Accept what is,

let go of what was,

and have faith in what will be.

 

 

A person’s most useful asset is not the head full of knowledge, but a heart full of love, an ear ready to listen, and a hand willing to help.

 

 

ATTITUDE

IS THE

DIFFERENCE

BETWEEN

AN ORDEAL

AND AN

ADVENTURE

 

 

“Feed your faith and your fears will starve.”

~ Max Lucado

 

 

“Rivers do not drink their own water; trees do not eat their own fruit; the sun does not shine on itself and flowers do not spread their fragrance for themselves.  Living for others is a rule of nature.  We are all born to help each other.  No matter how difficult it is, life is good when you are happy; but much better when others are happy because of you.”

~ Pope Francis

 

 

“Sometimes God holds you back temporarily until the road is safe and clear to continue.  Be thankful for the stall.”

~ Toby Mac

 

 There isn’t a mask

big enough to protect

us from everything

going on in the world

today.  We need to

suit up with the

whole armor of God.

 

 

 

Because of the Lord’s great love

     we are not consumed,

          for His compassions never fail.

They are new every morning;

     great is your faithfulness.

I say to myself,

     “The Lord is my portion;

      therefore I will wait for Him.”

Lamentations 3:22-24

 

And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in good works.

2 Corinthians 9:8