Do you have any idea how people will speak about you when your time on earth is over? Are you taking steps now to ensure that you leave behind a legacy for your family and friends to remember you? In our hurried life it is not something that many people think about yet it is important.
I had time to think on this today when I was driving from my job to home. It is no surprise that my family is always on my mind. If I had more disposable income I would shower my children and grandchidren with enough money so that they don't ever have to struggle. I know the driving force behind me wanting to spare them struggle is because I did enough for all of them combined. For many years I was a single parent raising four children. It was tough and my living conditions at times went from fair to poor. I had to tell my children no so much it was pathetic. I grieved over the inability to be what I thought of as a proper parent. I wanted my children to know how much I loved them yet I felt helpless to make it any better. Then the Lord told me something that rang in my head. "If you provide everything they need and they never feel hardship they will never learn to rely on me". Wow, a heavenly rebuke. I had made it so that when times got tough they turned to me first, usually, instead of to God. Oops.
My focus is a bit different now. I still help as much as I can but I am quicker to point them to where their help comes from. I want them to learn to lean on Jesus as much as I have had them lean on me. I turned some really bad times around by God's favor and good old hard work. Nothing happened overnight. It was "keep on keeping on" and persevering even when things looked bleak. I thank those that reached out to help me and saw them as angels God used to help get me back on track.
Today my children are all making their own impact in the world and they are providing for their families. I am very proud of each of them. As the grand children grow up I am loving my time to be with each of them.
So I want what is remembered about me to be a knowing that I would give the shirt off my back, pray without ceasing and always have an ear to hear and discernment to give wise counsel. I enjoy a profession that has been my focus for over thrity years and I am still reaching to be even more. That's it. God, Family, Job. Pretty much sums up my life and legacy.
Lord, please find something that all my readers can focus on as the legacy they want to be remembered for in their life. Help us to stay pointed toward you and full of praise and adoration. Amen
Hiking along I think it is time to sit a spell and praise Him. He is so good and worthy of all of me. May my legacy forever be first and foremost that I was a Christian woman covered in grace.
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