Legacy

Legacy

Since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us.

Hebrews 12:1

I’ve got a milestone birthday looming. Instead of bemoaning the addition of a few more laugh lines, I’ve been pondering the notion of legacy. While legacy doesn’t feel relevant as I navigate the parenting trenches of elementary school, I realize that if we aren’t thinking about legacy now, then we’re doing something wrong.

It is my heart’s desire to leave a legacy of faith—that I would be remembered for reflecting Jesus to my children, my coworkers, and my neighbors. Not that I lived perfectly, but that I loved God and loved others to the best of my ability in the little moments and in the big moments.

Intentional kindness is an integral part of my legacy of faith. Kindness, especially when it is not the expected response to a situation, is how I tangibly reveal Christ’s love in action. It is built through the quiet pouring out of time and resources into the lives of those around me and by living a life that looks beyond my own interests to the interests of others.

Hebrews 12:1 reminds us that our earthly lives are a race and that we are cheered on by the faithful Christians who have gone before us. We don’t get to wait to build our legacy; we are building it every minute of every day, whether we want to admit it or not.

Wherever you are in your faith race, be encouraged! Our call to a legacy of faith is a marathon not a sprint. It is something that is built over a lifetime, not overnight. Just don’t put it off, thinking that you are too busy and that you’ll get around to it later. Your legacy is built day by day, small step by small step.

—Julie

— Today’s Act of Kindness —

Prayerfully consider the legacy you are currently creating and take one small step toward the legacy you want to create.