What's Your Legacy?

I remember your sincere and unqualified faith [the surrendering of your entire self to God in Christ with confident trust in His power, wisdom and goodness, a faith] which first lived in [the heart of] your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice, and I am confident that it is in you as well.–2 Timothy 1:5 

As a second year literacy coach at Charlevoix Elementary School through the school district and AmeriCorps, my “official” title is support staff member. At the beginning of each new school year staff members receive shirts bearing the proud Rayder logo and the name of our school. This year there was the addition of a catchy phrase–“What’s Your Legacy?” Hmmmm…”What’s Your Legacy?” Think about that for a moment.

Most of us hear the word “legacy” and our minds instantly kick into financial mode and while that can be and is a legacy onto itself that is not the sum and total. Whether or not we realize it our lives are a legacy from the time we hit the floor running in the morning until we fall into bed exhausted at night. Each life touches another..and another..and another..and another..With each interaction…every word spoken…every action taken…we have the potential to leave a legacy of success or one of failure. We have the ability to speak life or death to those we encounter every day. Do we get it right every time? Is every moment one of success? No, probably not. The blessing here is being given the chance of another day to do it again, to try again.

I look back over my short period of time as a literacy coach and I see students who, when I met them at the beginning of the year, were quiet, shy, and very reserved. A few of my students, because English was not their first language, contributed very little in class. Some of these kids struggled with reading and could barely put two words together in a sentence. Time, patience, consistency, a bit of silliness on my part and a whole lot of team effort (let’s face it, I’m not the only one who works with these kids in a day’s time) and these same kids are not only reading but are e-mailing me stories they have written. They surround me in the halls with hugs and laughter. Their in class participation has increased as, I hope, has their confidence. I cannot and will not take all the credit for what these kids have achieved. But I do hope my time with them has left something on their hearts and minds for the better.

Just as much, if not more, I want to be a Lois. I want to be a Eunice. I want to leave a legacy of faith. The Apostle Paul in his letter to young Timothy could not help but mention the legacy of faith his mother and grandmother left for him. He went so far as to say he believed with confidence that same faith was present in Timothy. How is such a legacy possible? Especially in the world we live in today?

Proverbs 22:6 says this–“Train up a child in the way he should go [teaching him to seek God’s wisdom and will for his abilities and talents], Even when he is old he will not depart from it.”  In Deuteronomy 6:9 we are told to “write them (the words of the Law) on the door frames of our houses and on our gates” while a few chapters over in chapter 11, verse 18 we are told, “”You shall therefore impress these words of mine on your heart and on your soul; and you shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontals on your forehead.” In fact, Deuteronomy 6:5-7 says this–“You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your might. And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart; you shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up.” 

In other words, walk your walk; don’t just give it lip service. Live your faith and live it out loud with joyous abandon. Live it and walk it in front of your kids. Let them actually see you putting into action with your life what comes out of your mouth in words. I believe kids are sharper and shrewder than they are given credit for and I can say through my own experiences as a former kid and as a parent kids care nothing about your words; these days words are a dime a dozen and are quite disposable. What they do care about is your example and that above and beyond anything you say or don’t say is what they will learn from. Let them hear you speak well of people, especially people who may have put some kind of hurt on you when it would be so much easier to gossip and tear them down. Let them see you making right choices in the face of temptation. Let them see you standing for what’s right when the rest of the world tells them to do so makes them narrow minded, bigoted, and whatever form of “phobic” may come to mind. Let them see you striving for excellence and integrity rather than settling for mediocrity, doing just enough of what it takes to get by. Though I was not alive during this time I believe Lois and Eunice lived this kind of faith in front of young Timothy. I believe they walked out their faith unashamedly and without apology.  And I believe by doing so they left an endearing legacy, one that still touches the lives of those who came after. This is the legacy I desire to leave for my children. All of my children.

What will your legacy be?

Devotional Time

Take a moment now to read and reflect on 2 Timothy chapter 2 along with the verses in Proverbs and Deuteronomy. In your journal, if applicable, record your thoughts, questions, anything that God reveals. Let Him show you any area of your life which may still need to be surrendered to Him.