A Living Legacy

I was listening to YouTube recently when I ran across a video by younger man who was doing a live review of the song, "Leader of the Band," by Dan Fogelberg. I was interested to hear what this man thought about a song that I have liked for many years.

It was interesting to see his reaction to the song and listen to his comments. He was emotional because it reminded him of his dearly departed mother's influence in his life. I think all of us who have lost a parent can relate—or at least I hope we can relate to the influence a parent has provided us. He really liked the song and especially the poetic lyrics and Dan's beautiful voice.

All of this got me to thinking about a line from the song: I am a living legacy.

Both of my parents are gone now, but that still makes me a living legacy of their lives. I carry on certain attributes that they imprinted on my life. I have my mother's sense of humor, but I didn't get her gift of gab. My writing abilities came from her as well. She started writing poetry as a young girl and continued to write poetry throughout her life. She quietly wrote her poetry and shared her writing with some. While I have tried my hand at poetry, my preference is writing things like this. My mother and my grandmother loved to sing and my mother told me I got my soprano voice from my grandmother. Hmmm more legacy.

My father could fix just about anything and loved to work with wood. Somehow I managed to inherit some of that fix-it capability. I recall taking an aptitude test in high school and scored very high on mechanical ability. So even now I can sometimes figure out fixes or work-arounds. My father also loved music and enjoyed singing. He encouraged this in my life and always attended my concerts whenever he could. He also loved to garden and enjoyed sharing whatever he was growing with me. He got that ability from his mother and I have also enjoyed growing and taking care of plants.

In addition, both of my parents instilled the legacy of Jesus Christ in my life. They had that legacy handed down to them from their parents. What a rich legacy and probably the best legacy of all. I carry with me that love of Jesus.

That got me to thinking about our Heavenly Father and the legacy I carry from Him. Although I don't have children, I hope that I have been able to pass along this love of Jesus to others along the way. This reminds me of the "Love Chapter" 1 Corinthians 13.

Love is patient, love is kind, it is not jealous; love does not brag, it is not arrogant. It does not act disgracefully, it does not seek its own benefit; it is not provoked, does not keep an account of a wrong suffered, it does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; it keeps every confidence, it believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. -1 Cor. 13:4-7 (NLT)

I hope as I have walked through life and continue to do so, that I will exhibit this legacy to others most of all. It is a legacy that is desperately needed in this world. 

I will close this look at legacy with the Aaronic blessing from Numbers 6:22-27.

And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, Speak unto Aaron and unto his sons, saying, On this wise ye shall bless the children of Israel, saying unto them, 

The Lord bless thee, and keep thee:

The Lord make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee:

The Lord lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace.

And they shall put my name upon the children of Israel, and I will bless them.