Leave a Legacy – What Does A Lasting Legacy Look Like?

 When most people think of leaving a legacy they think of a financial gift or some form of valuable personal property. 

But what if leaving a legacy looks a lot different than material possession? What if leaving a legacy is much more than that? What if it has more to do with spiritual matters rather than physical. 

I didn’t fully embrace this concept until I married my husband in 2017 and began to realize that to leave a legacy is about impacting the future generation with our choices. I mean don’t get me wrong, I’d love to leave our family a hefty amount of cash or a few acres of land but all that is secondary to what I’m about to share.

What does it look like to leave a legacy?

When I think of what leaving a legacy looks like, I often look to my husband’s grandparents as an example.

His grandparents met on the basketball court of their Middle School and began a love journey for more than 60 years. In their story, they not only found love but they founded a church and became a spiritual father and mother to many generations. They faced many obstacles as an African-American couple who felt called to preach the Gospel to the local church. His grandparents started something life-changing by accepting the pull to preach the Good News, which then infiltrated their 3 children, 11 grandchildren, and 6 great-grandchildren, whew! That’s a lot.

If you’d like to read more about this inspirational and motivational story, you can purchase Raquel C. Gary’s book, The Legacy on Amazon.

After stepping into marriage and my own womanhood, I began to realize I, too, want to give my future sons and daughters something that is sustainable and will endure to the end of time.

We’ve heard true stories from our fathers about our rich heritage. We will continue to tell our children and not hide from the rising generation the great marvels of our God- his miracles and power that have brought us all this far. – Psalm 78:3-4 TPT

How do you leave a legacy?

When it comes to leaving an impactful legacy, we have to first know where one comes from. The ultimate legacy is found in the bible in the story of Jesus Christ. A Virgin gave birth to a son, the purpose of Him was to take on the sins of the world. Leading up to Jesus, throughout the bible you see men and women partaking in noble actions and leaving legacies to protect their bloodlines. They never gave up because they were thinking of the future generation to come. And not to mention, most of the stories of men and women in the bible were related to Jesus Christ. Talk about leaving a legacy.

Have faith in God. We know the Bible instructs us to put our faith in God He will lead and direct our footsteps into the promise of family. Leaving the gift of Faith is very valuable. You may ask, how do I do that? One of the biggest ways to leave a legacy of faith is through prayer. People in the bible prayed to God for their nations and families into what God was calling them to. We have to be praying with and for families. One of our greatest responsibilities is imprinting our children and families with a lasting legacy of Faith.

I believe leaving a legacy is about our purpose in family. If we are intentional about what God is calling us to, we can trust he is guiding our footsteps for us and our families. Whether they are in our own homes or around the globe. Finding our purpose is something that we don’t go looking for but it’s something that’s already within us.

Love God, your God, with your whole heart: love him with all that’s in you, love him with all you’ve got! Write these commandments that I’ve given you today on your hearts. Get them inside of you and then get them inside your children. Talk about them wherever you are, sitting at home or walking in the street; talk about them from the time you get up in the morning to when you fall into bed at night. – Deuteronomy 6:5-7

How do you want to leave a legacy? 

Leaving a legacy is first a choice. A choice to build and influence a new generation from the ground up. To take away from our parent’s lessons but to create our own lane. For two completely different individuals, yet so similar, to decide to partake in God’s purposes, plans designs for their future together. I want to propose the question, How do you want to leave a legacy?

Leave a legacy that lasts till the end of time, even into eternity.