Legacies

Living in Washington, “legacies” is a term one hears frequently. The city is full of monuments, parks, bridges and buildings named to remind people of someone’s legacy. Bills are constantly being passed to name a boat, park, highway, bridge or some other federal building somewhere in the country after someone. Legacy is part of the political mantra of long term members of congress and during President’s second term. Supreme Court justices, significant civil servants and generals are not immune from building their “legacies”… and we sometimes see it with Salvation Army officers.

When we look at “the great leaders” most of us lack legacies. Or do we? The type of legacies that make into history books distracts us from two of the more significant legacies one could leave. One of these legacies is the testimony of a faith of Christ; a faith lived out in word and action. A second legacy is how we have shaped the character, values and dreams of our children and grandchildren.

No person is an island. Our lives are like a mighty river into which various tributaries flow. Sometimes the river flows rapidly, churning and cutting its way dramatically and at other times meandering slowly enjoying its existence. While as a parent I cannot guarantee the character of my children, as a powerful headwater I am able to have a dramatic impact upon the nature and character of my two sons rivers, and through them to my yet unknown grandchildren. My character and faith are the strong headwaters that I hope will dominate their rivers as other streams flow into their lives.

Nana has been a major stream in many into the rivers that make up our lives. Through my mother she has shaped my life. Her influence has been strengthened through years of family visits and words of encouragement.

None of us are flawless. Each of us has their shortcomings and strengths. Each of us has their own collection of defeats and victories. Nana too has had her share of each. One of her greatest victories and lasting legacies is her faith in her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. She loved her Lord and in quiet way lived out her faith. She looked forward to being in the Lord’s house and to worshipping Him with her whole heart. She quietly and in a simple manner encouraged her own children and grandchildren to think about things above and faith.

Nana’s greatest legacies rest in the hands of her children and grandchildren. It is up to us who live on to reflect her best qualities and to live out a godly faith. It is up to us to seek to live in faith an honest life. It is up to us who are her biological and spiritual heirs to be slow to anger, quick to forgive, to love with an expansive love that like a balloon with immense capacity continues to expand and remain full. It is up to each of us to take joy in our family, to be kind to each other and to have a generous compassionate spirit toward others, and to give the best of ourselves to our family and community responsibilities.

We are Nana's legacies. May God grant us the courage and wisdom to carry on our grandmother’s legacy through how we live each day.

Nana lived a full life. She passed from this life peacefully, both in body, mind and soul. She was at peace in her own soul and with her Lord. In the Army we speak of a person being “Promoted to Glory”. Nana has been promoted. Welcome home good and faithful servant and daughter. Welcome Home!