Your Legacy

What legacy have you left or are you leaving behind. There are so many different kinds of legacies, each one having their own value. Some people don't even know they're leaving one, but leave it none the less. My great grandmother and great great grandmother were both midwives. They probably did it out of necessity, but also out of their desire to help. I doubt they did it to "be remembered by", and yet when I came to a moment in my life of realizing God had called me on this path, their legacy was a blessing to me. I hadn't known that they were, but when I shared my my feelings with my mom, she told me how they had been midwives and it encouraged me.

My mother in "love" makes quilts. Not your fancy, expensive machine stitched ones, the hand sewn, hand quilted scrap quilts. Sort of a crazy quilt you could say. She started a long time before I ever knew her, but we have watched her quilting grow and evolve, but it's still "her style". The interesting thing is that it was also her grandmother's style, possibly her own grandmother's legacy. The quilt in the picture was made by her (mom) and each of my babies have one. Hannah and Jr. have 2. My husband and I also have a wedding quilt, which she makes extra special with fancy fabrics and such. One of the most fun things to do with these quilts is look through and find fabrics that you recognize, a favorite shirt or a leftover piece of fabric from a maternity dress. Our wedding quilt has scraps of fabric from some of the dresses worn in our wedding party.

When thinking about this idea of a "legacy" I ponder on the other side of things too. When I relive my day today, I think about my behavior and my lack of patience and self control. I know we all have days, good and bad, but I am keenly aware of the unintended memories. I myself remember things about my childhood that reflected my parents in less than ideal light. Am I unintentionally leaving my children with a legacy that will darken their future or am I blessing them. We all do our best, but I think on these things and it inspires me to do better.

"5 Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves." 2 Corinthians 13:5 NKJV

I like to use this scripture to remind me to think of anything I can possibly pray for that God would help me lay down the old so that I may pick up the new (habits). I also pray "Help me die to myself so that I may live for Christ". Every day is a new chance, every moment a new moment. It only takes a second to crack a smile on a cranky face, and it only takes a few minutes to pray over and ask forgiveness for bad behavior and attitudes. People only loose relationships in an instance after a death. But all other lost or broken relationships are lost one missed opportunity at a time. Our lives are filled with opportunities to love and laugh and leave lasting legacies of joy and God given inspiration for our families to remember us by.

"28Her children rise up and call her blessed; Her husband also, and he praises her." Proverbs 31:28 NKJV:

What legacy will you leave, what will your family remember about you?

Be blessed