Leaving a Lasting Legacy

A couple months ago, while scrolling aimlessly through videos, I stumbled across one that’s been on my mind ever since.

A woman, sitting in a studio, stared into the eyes of her camera audience and said, “If I could ask everyone one question, a question I know will change their lives, it would be this: What do you want written in your eulogy?”

I nearly dropped my phone. My eulogy? Isn’t that a little morbid? (And in case you don’t know what a eulogy is, which no shame if you don’t, it’s what people say about you after you die, usually at your funeral or in the newspaper)

But as she continued, her idea began making sense. We make a lot of small goals throughout our lives and things come up that distract us, and we forget our mission. But when we write out the main things we want to be known for, then we can prioritize them when we make decisions.

I recently completed a Bible study with a few friends on the topic of legacies. We were studying the legacies of women in the Bible, such as Ruth, Esther, Mary, and many others. If you think about it, we only get a snapshot of their lives. Usually just a short season, if even that. But they each did one or more things that made them remarkable, leaving lasting legacies.

But what makes someone even have a lasting legacy? Let’s be honest, there are so many people who have come and gone without much recognition. Does that make them less valuable than others whose names have outlived them?

No, not necessarily. There’s a song on the radio that goes something like, “I don’t want people to remember my name, only Jesus”. I love that reminder to not strive for worldly fame but instead pointing as many people as possible to Jesus.

And that’s also the ticket to having a lasting legacy– keeping Jesus’ mission, reaching everyone with His love, our mission too.

There are two main things to keep in mind when striving to create a lasting legacy:

Demonstrate Jesus’ qualities

Right now, jot down a list of five or so characteristics of Jesus’ that you admire. Maybe they are unconditional love, a forgiving heart, or a deep understanding of people. It’s pretty much impossible to suddenly obtain all of Jesus’ qualities at once, but if you have a few that are really meaningful for you to strive for, that’s a good start.

When we learn about people in the Bible, we don’t just learn about when they were with or referring to Jesus. We learn how they demonstrated His characteristics. Esther showed courage, Ruth demonstrated loyalty, and Mary provided an example of trust. Think about what qualities you want to be known for and what will be impactful to others.

Reach out to others

I saw a movie last night based on the life of a teenager who was sadly killed in a motorcycle accident, yet left a lasting legacy that touched the lives of thousands. In fact, 4,000 people attended her memorial service. The thing people remembered about her was that she saw every person, whether a stranger, an awkward kid at school, or a worker at a store, as a friend.

I haven’t met many people like that, and I’m guessing you haven’t either. That’s why people like this young woman are seen as an inspiration. But wouldn’t it be wonderful if everyone reached out when they saw someone hurting or alone? I’m sure our mental health crisis would no longer be such a crisis if this were the case. A lot of times, all it takes is one person reaching out, making sure that the people, even the people who seem to have it all together, are okay.

What if you’re that person? Wouldn’t you like to be known as the person who made life more bearable, even enjoyable, for others? Yes, it will come at the cost of your pride, considering reaching out to others can be a scary and humiliating experience. But in the end, isn’t a little embarrassment worth the potential gain?

What’s your legacy going to be?

Obviously, you won’t know right now what your legacy is going to be. None of us do. But we can think about what we’d like it to be and make proactive choices now instead of wasting time…like scrolling aimlessly through videos haha. In all seriousness, I believe that simply by doing what God calls you to do, whether that’s traveling to the other side of the world or staying right here, you will have a lasting legacy.

No matter what, just by being you and not for anything you can or will accomplish, you are loved. So loved. And you have an incredible purpose. ❤

One generation shall commend your works to another, and shall declare your mighty acts.

Psalm 145:4

But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

Matthew 6:20-21

But the steadfast love of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear him, and his righteousness to children’s children

Psalm 103:17

If you’re looking for a song about seeking Jesus above all else, this one is one of my favorites!

First, by Lauren Daigle: https://youtu.be/26Mqmc5rWM8