I have a "thing" about leaving a legacy. I don't have a large natural family with all sorts of traditions or memories and as such have a longing to establish such things in my home. More important than that however I often wonder what will I leave behind when I am dead.
I have a husband, a son, two ex-husbands so I know I will leave some people behind, but that is not even what I mean. I am talking about the legacy of my work that will represent my time spent on earth. Is anyone's life being changed or altered because they have had an encounter with me? Will anyone be in heaven because of me?
As a minister I tend to go to more funerals than the average person and I always am glad to see people come to pay their last respects. I have been to funerals where people have traveled upwards of 3,000 miles to attend. WOW! I am not sure that anyone would even drive 50 miles for me and if that is true, whose fault is that? Mine, if I am not using what God has given me to make an impact on others then it is my fault and I can understand why God would judge me harshly for such a thing.
He took the time to give me a gift and if used properly will have an impact on those around me.
What about you? What kind of legacy will you leave behind?
This is a great blog and really made me think and I would guess that my thoughts kind of strayed from your path, just a bit. I do want to leave a legacy behind me that my family and loved ones will be able to gleam from. More importantly than that, I tend to think about the negative impact we have on people and when I leave this world will there be people who may wished I never had crossed there path. Maybe because during the time I was involved with them, I was hurting myself and was too selfish to care about their needs.
ReplyDeleteI think about the lives of people I have impacted and, as the saying goes, first impressions last a life time. I just pray that as I live this life God has graciously given me that I am more aware of the needs of those around me and that I make sure that I am not destroying life, while trying to live my own. I pray that my legacy is not a garden full of weeds instead of blossoming flowers.
Again thanks for this blog.