Fathers, have you ever thought about what kind of legacy you want to leave behind for your children, your family and your friends when you pass on? Have you ever considered how you want others to remember you? The reality is every life leaves a legacy – that is not an option. What will be yours? The truth is that right now you are working on the legacy you are going to leave behind. Leaving a legacy involves far more than handing down a monetary inheritance, or passing on a good family name – for those things will surely pass away and forever be forgotten.
When our lives come to an end, it would not matter how much money was left in the bank, or how many vehicles we owned, or how big our houses were, or how many earthly possessions we accumulated. It will be what impact did we make on the lives of people who God brought across our path? You see, my friends, our families will have left in their hands primarily that which we pass on to them. They will be left with our legacy – good or bad. That is what they will have. Proverbs 13:22 states, “A good man leaves an inheritance for his children’s children.” What does this mean? It means that how we live, what we live for, and how we invest our lives make a difference. The way we live now and the choices we make today affect those around us. Our legacies live on in the lives of others. Proverbs 22: 1 says “a good reputation and respect are worth much more than silver and gold”.
The Bible is filled with many men and women who left countless legacies behind. Remarkable men and women whose stories stand out to encourage and challenge our faith. Some of these heroes of the Bible were well-known personalities, while others remain anonymous. Here are a few from the Old Testament:
1. Abel – He was a man of faith who pleased God in his daily life.
2. Abraham – He was called the “father of faith” despite his human failings. He always trusted God, regardless of external circumstances – a powerful example to Christian believers.
3. Moses and Aaron. They did mighty exploits for God. They brought the Israelites out of bondage.
4. King David left countless legacies. He may very well have left the most influential legacy in the history of humanity. David left behind a legacy that would change many lives today.
5. Elijah was a powerful example to Elisha who became his disciple and desired to share in his ministry.
6. Josiah led the nation to repentance, but his legacy was short-lived.
7. Nehemiah rebuilt Jerusalem. His example has served generations leaders.
8. Esther – Risked everything and saved her nation. A feast day commemorating her story continues today.
9. Rahab. Will always be remembered. Her faith was tangible and visible. She was in the lineage of Christ.
Those men and women’s legacies are very clear, and inspirational, because they lived for Jesus Christ. They lived for His glory, not their own. What legacy will you leave behind? Your legacy is all that really matters in the end. What will be said and remembered about you? Did you help others? Did you give encouragement and hope to others? What did you do with your time, energy and resources? Do you give something of yourself back to others?
You see, life is composed of a series of moments. Some of those moments are happy and some sad. Some moments are ones to cherish and remember, while others are forgotten. Some moments are exhilarating and others just plain terrifying. There will be moments of peace and moments of pain. Life is nothing more and nothing less than the moments we experience. However, these moments are the foundation of the legacy that we build day by day. We either build a legacy of self or a legacy of service.
How will people summarize your work and life? How will they measure the impact of your leadership? How do you want to be remembered? How would you write your own eulogy? Unless we think seriously about the kind of legacy we are developing, it is likely we will leave nothing worth inheriting. Hence, it is time to think about what sort of impact you want to make – one you desire to leave behind.
What we do or fail to do, will seriously affect the lives and the society in which our children live tomorrow. Never forget that you are now the investors in the next generation. Your families need you to pass on that legacy to them, so that they will have something to draw upon in the future. Therefore, if you are going to leave a legacy for your children, it will call for serious commitment on your part as fathers. Let us pray that God would turn us into the men He has called us to be – men that lead our families, men that build our communities, men that lead our country and men that leave a legacy of faithfulness to God. That is the only thing that is going to last.
Remember, it does not matter who your father was. It matters who you remember he was. Let us ask God to give our children a sense of purpose, direction, and mission. Let us leave our children a heritage and not just an inheritance.
About the Author: Mrs. Marilyn Hodge owns and operates the Wellness Centre in the Farrington, Anguilla. The Centre offers Counselling Services by Appointment Only and has now published Positive Living Volume 2. Contact information: 476-3517 or email: marilynb@anguillanet.com. www.facebook.com/axawellnesscentre
