Legacy

Legacy



 

In the last two weeks, I have had three important people in my life pass on to their rewards.  They left huge legacies in their own right but in different ways.  They all lived good long lives and left huge holes in a lot of hearts.  As always, it sparked a thought I'd like to share. 

                        

What Legacy are we leaving our family, friends, and the church? The last couple of weeks we have discussed communication in our families and church. As much as this is for us, it is also for the future generations of our family and church. The things we do now are going to echo in eternity and possibly affect someone outside the church to their benefit or detriment. 

 

One of the people who died was my Great Uncle.  His legacy was one of being a good provider for his family.  He was worth millions of dollars when he passed away at 103 years old.  He had lots of businesses all over the central valley and was very well respected.  But, at his funeral, there was maybe 50-60 people there.  His family was arguing and having issues over the inheritance.  He had been divorced and remarried 3 times and his kids and grandkids were following in his footsteps.  They are all good with money, and most all bad with marriage and family. 

 

Another who passed on was a music teacher at Harding.  She taught hundreds of people how to sing better.  At her funeral, there were hundreds of people in attendance and many of her former students sang together for her.  She touched so many people's lives, and from there, they went out with the same spirit and did the same.  She was one of the sweetest, kindest ladies who ever graced the earth.  Her legacy is one of deep conviction and love for God.

Several years ago a story was told about a men’s prison that provided free Mother’s Day cards to inmates who wanted to send cards to their moms. 

"Nearly all the inmates asked for a card and sent it to someone they called “mom.” It may have been their mom, someone else’s mom, their grandmother, etc.
Even so, they sent it to a woman they saw as the woman who cared for them, raised them, stayed with them, and was there for them.
Mother’s Day was so successful, the prison administration decided to build on that success, offering free Father’s Day cards. They were shocked when hardly any inmates showed up to get a free card to send to their father.
Sadly, this confirmed what statistics had shown—90 percent of incarcerated men lacked a loving relationship with their father or someone they could identify as their father figure.”       ~ Craig Bosley

Sad story to put in here, but a sobering one too!  We deeply affect our kids in every way, everyday.  Exodus 20:5-6 ⁵ You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, ⁶ but showing love to a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my commandments.  (my highlighting)

 

What we do now for our kids and church family will be felt years down the road.  Who knows what our kids will do to affect and teach our grandkids and even farther down the generation?  We have such great opportunity to make an eternal impact on our kids and church!  Class has been going great with great discussion.  Try to take as much time as you are able and invest it in someone's life.  It can bring great, rich dividends that you may not ever know.  But it will make a difference!

 

"A young girl was walking along a beach upon which thousands of starfish had been washed up during a terrible storm. When she came to each starfish, she would pick it up, and throw it back into the ocean. People watched her with amusement.

 

She had been doing this for some time when a man approached her and said, “Little girl, why are you doing this? Look at this beach! You can’t save all these starfish. You can’t begin to make a difference!”

 

The girl seemed crushed, suddenly deflated. But after a few moments, she bent down, picked up another starfish, and hurled it as far as she could into the ocean. Then she looked up at the man and replied,

 

“Well, I made a difference to that one!”

 

The old man looked at the girl inquisitively and thought about what she had done and said. Inspired, he joined the little girl in throwing starfish back into the sea. Soon others joined, and all the starfish were saved.

 

~ adapted from the Star Thrower by Loren C. Eiseley

 

Sorry it's such a long post today, but I had to make up for last week!  Thanks for your patience and for being such a blessing to me!  May God bless you today and always in whatever way He feels necessary as you bless and teach the next generation. 

Communication?

"Any problem, big or small, within a family, always seems to start with bad communication. Someone isn't listening." - Emma Thompson

This post may be a knee jerk reaction to what has happened lately, but I believe it is very meaningful and relevant to what we are talking about in class on Wednesday. 

Here in the past week, I found out some of my friends have split up.  They have filed for divorce and are both hurting immensely.  I have know this couple for 17 years and considered them some of my better friends.  It makes me sick to my stomach that I never knew anything about it.  I guess I expected them to come and talk to me about their issues if they had any.  

Some of this is coming as a revelation to me.  It made me physically ill when I found out my friends were splitting up.  I never asked anything but "surfacey" questions.  Things such as, "How's the weather out where you are?", "How's Work?", or "What's been going on lately?"  These deep, awe inspiring, thought provoking questions come to mind of things that I asked to keep a relationship "going".  Would you ask your husband or wife those things and expect to keep a good healthy relationship?  Not at all!  If we are to be about relationship with the Father, how are we modeling that in our lives with our Family or Friends?  There are many passages in scripture about fellowship, friendship, together, family etc... that God may have been dropping a STRONG hint.  He wants us to be with each other and helping each other out in every way we are gifted.  To use our gifts and blessings to help others out where they are not as gifted.  The different parts of the body are discussed in 1 Corinthians 12.  Just because you may not feel as gifted or as needed as someone else, you still have a ton you can contribute to someone else's life! 

I had a Professor in grad school say to me after a particularly bad session I had just had in therapy with a couple that he had been watching on closed monitor.  "Jeremy, there are some things we know we are not good at, will never be good at, and should have never even tried.  I have been watching you and I realize something you will never be good at."  At this point I was pretty much in tears thinking I was the world's sorriest therapist and should immediately quit and never listen to another problem or dispense advice.  He continued, "You should never be... a horse jockey."  I was stunned and my depression turned to laughter!  "Jeremy, you are just starting this new path and don't have any idea what it looks like to do it.  Give yourself time and keep developing your talents to become the best you can be at what God made you to be."  This story comes down to, don't sell yourself short!  Satan will do that enough for you!  Try to be with each other and in each other's lives!  Doing this for your family and for the family at church will make a huge difference in the life of someone you may or may not even know yet.  You are making a huge impact for eternity by being in someone's life and blessing them!  If you are not a member of a small group on Sunday nights, I encourage you to join one and share your life with them. 

Acts 2:42-47 
⁴² They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. ⁴³ Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. ⁴⁴ All the believers were together and had everything in common. ⁴⁵ They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. ⁴⁶ Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, ⁴⁷ praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.

"Communication leads to community, that is, to understanding, intimacy and mutual valuing."  

- Rollo May

Beginning the Journey...

Do the difficult things while they are easy and do the great things while they are small. A journey of a thousand miles must begin with a single step.
Lao Tzu

 

 

We are at a very important beginning with a lot of things changing in our Family and Building.  This quote is very applicable because it talks about the beginning of a journey. 

 

At the beginning of most tasks, there are a million different things which seem like they need to be attended to.  If you have ever gone on an extended vacation with children, you know exactly what that means.  Cups, clothes, swimsuits, diapers, pillows, things to occupy them (so the "are we there yet" comes much later in the trip), your own clothes and toiletries, map/gps, ad infinitum...  What happens if one or some of these items are left out?  Such as a sippy cup?  WAAAAAAA!!!!!!  Little things just became a much bigger deal! 

 

What are you doing to help your family today?  Little things.  Drop a note in your kids lunch telling them how much you love them.  Do the dishes.  Read a story to your kids.  Send a letter of encouragement to your favorite Family member/teacher/elder/friend.  Bless someone's day!  In the financial world, putting a little money in at the beginning of a good investment makes big rewards later.  Do something for someone else, "because you know that the Lord will reward each one for whatever good they do, whether slave or free." (Eph. 6:8)

 

Since we are at the first steps in this journey together, every little thing you can do to help would be very appreciated!