This past week-end I had the blessing and privilege of spending time with my first-born daughter and her family. We enjoy being together, in fact it was hard to say good-bye. I enjoyed being around their three children and making memories. As I listened to their parents impart wisdom, instruction and encouragement it occurred to me that legacy is not always that which takes place after a memorial service. Legacy is something that comes line upon line, experience upon experience, day after day as in this case, parenting happens with intention.
We are all leaving a legacy of sorts. The normal definition of legacy is an amount of money or property left to someone in a will. What I am talking about comes from the second definition : something received from an ancestor or predecessor. Those we influence, we are in fact, leaving a legacy.
As I watched my daughter take time to calm, encourage, and instruct her daughter I realized she is helping influence not only her, but also those Abby comes into contact with in the future. I saw myself in her approach, and also saw ways she took my approach and has improved upon it! It was wonderful to watch her apply her education and learning into her children’s lives. These parents live with a desire to leave a legacy of being role models in the faith to their children.
Reading through I Chronicles 28 we discover King David gathering the leaders and officials of Israel together to speak wisdom and insight into their lives. Then he gets personal with his son, the new king, Solomon. And Solomon, my son, learn to know the God of your ancestors intimately. Worship and serve him with your whole heart and a willing mind. for the Lord sees every heart and knows every plan and thought. If you seek him, you will find him. But if you forsake him, he will reject you forever. so take this seriously. The Lord has chosen you to build a Temple as his sanctuary. Be strong, and do th work.
I can hear King David’s heart. His words of advice and wisdom encouraging Solomon to learn to know the God of his ancestors intimately resonates in my own heart. I true want to get to know this amazing God of creation, salvation and purpose more intimately than I have ever known him before. I must come to him in faith, with faith trusting that Matthew 11:28, Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light. Learning to walk with him, with his yoke and his rest for my soul is really the legacy I long to impart unto others in my sphere of influence. As I watch my son-in-law and daughter impart faith and hope into their children I see Darryl’s and my legacy already at work. This is a wonderful gift. Those of you whose children have not yet embraced your faith, do not grow weary in well-doing. Pray for them, love them, be gracious unto them and trust our God for His love to touch their hearts and lives. I know it is not easy.
Solomon had a clear job direction. Build the Temple. Maybe our focus is not as tangible, but we can always always go about doing good because charity never fails. Father, help us be mindful of the legacy we always building and leaving. Help it to glorify you and your Kingdom. In Jesus Name, amen.
