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Nov 05, 2022 06:00am

Leaving a Legacy

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Do you ever worry about what people think of you? I suppose we all do. But I heard something a long time ago that really put it into perspective for me: “You wouldn’t worry so much about what people thought of you if you knew how seldom they did.” That’s a bit painful, but still true — at least of most people in our lives.

However, I’d like to believe that my family and friends think of me a little more often than my mere acquaintances, and I hope I sometimes bring a smile to their faces and sweet memories to their minds. But I’m not so naïve and prideful that I believe that’s always the case. Sometimes (as painful as it is to admit) I’m sure they think of things that are not so pleasant about me… but at least they’re still thinking of me.

We will all leave a legacy, and we all want to be remembered after we’re gone. How we live today could have a big impact on the true testimony of our lives.

Back in 2004, I attended a three-day CLASS (Christian Leaders, Authors and Speakers Seminar) event by authors Florence and Marita Littauer that was offered by Lifeword at Central Baptist College. It was a very informative and enlightening event, and I learned a lot. However, one result I didn’t expect from the experience was an invitation from the Littauers a few months later to contribute to one of their books, “Making the Blue Plate Special: The Joy of Family Legacies.” My affirmative response to that email ended up in the introduction to the book: “All of us are a part of the great ‘sea of humanity,’ but I don’t want to be a wave that comes and goes and is then forgotten. I want generations of my family that follow after me to know that I lived and that I loved. I want them to know Grandma Spriggs had a real and personal relationship with God, and she wanted them to have one, too.”

So how about you? What will your family and friends remember about you?

Will they remember a testimony of faith in God that you tried your best to live out every day? Will they remember that you trusted His Son to save you and that you talked to Him every day in prayer? Will they remember how you tried to serve others and did your best to love them, even when they were a bit unlovable? Will they remember that, although you made many mistakes, you were always ready to confess them to God and to others and learn from them?

The saying by C.T. Studd back in 1882 is still true: “Only one life, twill soon be past; only what’s done for Christ will last.”

Placing my faith in Christ as my Savior at an early age was the true beginning of my life. I started writing my legacy that Sunday morning, and I will continue writing it until I take my last breath.

As followers of Christ, who have trusted Him as our Savior, we are promised an eternal life in Heaven, but our time here on earth is very limited. We are writing out the story of our lives, our legacy, every day. What kind of legacy will you leave for those who come behind you? Will the waves of your life leave a beautiful seashell for someone to discover, or will it just be dried up seaweed that will be tossed aside?
If your story hasn’t been too pretty so far, you can change that today. Just place your faith in Christ, the Son of God, and ask Him to help you. He’s the greatest author who ever lived, so why not give him the pen and let Him write your story from this point on? You’ll be so glad you did!