Live Your Legacy

Last month, the passing of Congressman John Lewis spurred much commentary around legacy. Last night, I was reminded yet again of legacy with the passing of actor, writer, and director Chadwick Boseman.

For me, as I reflected on both high-profile passings, my reflections served as a reminder that your legacy doesn't begin when you die.  You are to live your legacy each day.  Living your legacy is a daily contribution towards what you ultimately leave behind. 

When I think about my own life, I often think at some point during a day: "If I were to die today, what would have been the last thing I said, did, or do?"  This question may seem a bit morbid to some, but if this resonates with you as it does me, then you understand the weight in which it carries, but also the truth of it.

Legacy is less about the things we leave and more about the life we lead. Our words, roles, actions, character, and contributions are each pieces to the collective sum of the legacy we live out.

As a mother, my children are my legacy in the flesh. How I live, what I say, and the choices I make will leave a lasting impression on many of the choices that they themselves will choose to make. If you have littles, think about it this way: "What will they live out that you leave behind?"

I grew up in the southern Baptist church and there is an old saying, "May the work I've done speak for me." More often than not, it was the elders making this statement. Seasoned in their years, their reflections about their work on this earth resonate with me to this day. "Long after your days, will the work you did, words you said, actions you took, contributions you made speak well of you?"

As a believer and daughter of the King, I want nothing more than to be completely used up for His purpose and glory of this side of heaven; growing closer towards the fateful day when I can hear my Lord say, "Well done, thy good and faithful servant." 

Until then, I'm leaning into living my legacy and giving flowers to folks while they are here to see and smell them...and taking a sniff of my own while I'm at it.

Grow Like a Weed

Have you ever taken the time to watch a weed? Seriously. Besides seeing it, rolling your eyes, and immediately snatching it out of the ground or cutting it down, have you ever taken the time to take a good look at weeds. Probably not. But you should. They know a thing or two about growth!

While out on my walk this morning, I noticed multiple weeds peppering across lawns and flower beds. As I looked down at the pavement, I noticed sprigs of green. Green that wasn't cut and strewn into the street, but something green that was growing from underneath the cement. Weeds. Something so small and fragile, yet so powerful and determined.

We could all learn something from weeds. Many of us have had to fight similar circumstances.  Dismissed. Discarded. Overlooked. Neglected. Stifled. Labeled a misfit. Kept under pressure. 

I'm no exception. I've been cut by words.  Words that clipped my confidence; confidence that took a while to rebuild and restore. 

What I realized after reflecting on that weed earlier today is that people can be lawn mowers or seed sowers.  Either choosing to cut you down or encouraging you to grow! But once they've made their choice, it's ultimately up to you to choose to weed your way through it - pushing beyond the words, the circumstances, the dirt, and even concrete to thrive where others least expect you to.  And just like a weed, if you get cut down...grow back up again!