#9 Beyond Monuments: Leaving a Legacy Across the Generations

I think deep down we all might want to leave some form of legacy after we’ve gone. Something that we feel has contributed to the community or the world around us. It’s seems hard wired into our DNA. I was travelling around Italy last year, and saw first hand the legacy the Romans left the world. There’s a constant throng of tourists who pay good money to experience the impact of this great empire. I have a sneaking suspicion that at least some of those tourists may find themselves asking the question, “I wonder what I'm leaving behind that future generations might remember me by?”

It’s not just timeless monuments or magnificent ruins that I’m referring to. Some wealthy families purchase their legacy by donating money and having a wing at a university or hospital named after them. Some elite sports people may hold a record that will stand the test of time and ensure no one forgets their contribution to a sport. Most of us won’t get to leave behind great monuments or be once in a generation athletes or craft priceless pieces of art that are immortalised in galleries, but we do have the chance to leave something of value behind to the next generation.

Crafting a Legacy Beyond Monuments

Our legacy most often will come in the form of our family, our values and traditions and the good we did in this world. It may not be monumental; it may not attract a legion of followers, but it can have a significant impact well after we’ve gone. It made me think back to when I was sitting by the beautiful Tweed River on a lovely sunny day some time ago. The sun was warm on my back and the water was glassy calm on the river. I had my head down writing. Suddenly, I was interrupted by the splash of waves on the shore, and I looked up to see what had caused them. There was nothing in front of me except the very clear evidence that some type of vessel had passed by shortly before. I must have been distracted because I couldn't remember hearing anything. It had caused waves as it cut through the water and those waves then moved outward, eventually hitting the shore where I was sitting. The waves took time to get to me and it was only now that I was aware something had passed by and left a mark.

We all pass by somewhere in this world and whether we know it or not it creates a series of waves that move out from us. Have you ever thrown a stone into a still pond and made a splash and then watched the ripple effect of what you just did? Our lives create a ripple effect too, and the type of impact we make and the intensity of the waves that are created as a result is determined by the way we choose to travel through life. We can be intentional in the sort of splash we make—by investing in a family that serves and honors others, that lives by a clear set of values such as respect, kindness, and generosity, and chooses to contribute positively to society. We can help shape a family that finds ways to love and serve our neighbours, do good in this world, and demonstrates the love of Christ, not just to our friends but to all people.

"Legacy is not leaving something for people. It's leaving something in people." Unknown

Shaping Generations through Family Values

If we do intentionally invest into others, then we’re actually causing a ripple from the good that we bring to those around us, and this is going to last way beyond the actual journey we make in this life or any single ‘splash’ we might make.

People may not look up and see that you’re the cause of the ripples they’ve just experienced in their lives from others who were influenced by you, but they will feel the effects of your passing. Whether or not there is direct attribution to the contribution you made as clearly as there is to the impact of the Roman Empire or the name on a university building is actually immaterial.

Our main focus should be navigating our path in life well, ensuring we leave something of value for the generations to come, whether they realize it was our doing or simply recognize the significance of what passed by.

"What we have done for ourselves alone dies with us; what we have done for others and the world remains and is immortal." Albert Pike

Living an Intentional Life

I remember trying to think of what to write on my wife’s gravestone in the months after she died. I opted for a line that spoke volumes. I said "Yours was a life well lived.." I can't think of a better tribute and in the years since, I’ve experienced the ripple effect of her life often in the behaviours and attitudes of our children.

What small thing can you do today to ensure you are living well, helping shape the lives of others to do good in this world, and adding to the legacy you leave behind?

What you leave behind is not what is engraved in stone monuments, but what is woven into the lives of others. Pericles (https://www.azquotes.com/quotes/topics/leaving-a-legacy.html)

From Reflection to Action: (These are just suggestions – maybe choose 1 or 2 to try)

Family Values Workshop: Call a family meeting (with immediate or wider family if you are single) to discuss and define the values you collectively hold. Brainstorm ways to embody these values in your daily lives and relationships. Make them ones you feel proud of and want to pass down through the generations.
Share Family Stories: Gather as a family and share personal stories of kindness and generosity passed down through generations. Discuss how these stories could inspire your actions today.
Connect More Widely: For those navigating life without traditional family structures, explore connections beyond the expected. Take the time to explore and name what values are important to you and how living these out can have an impact on the community around you. Join community groups, volunteer, or foster meaningful relationships with friends and neighbours. Your life well lived could make leave a profound legacy in the most unexpected places.
Monthly Acts of Kindness Challenge: Challenge yourself and/or each family member to perform a monthly act of kindness for someone outside the family. Share experiences when you are together and discuss the possible impact.
Tune into Encouraging Podcasts: Boost your resilience with these stories from the Resilient Souls podcast.

Bible verses about leaving a lasting legacy:

Psalm 145:4 (NLT): "Let each generation tell its children of your mighty acts; let them proclaim your power."
Deuteronomy 6:6-7 (NIV): "These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up."
Proverbs 22:1 (NLT): "Choose a good reputation over great riches; being held in high esteem is better than silver or gold."
1 Timothy 4:12 (NLT): "Don’t let anyone think less of you because you are young. Be an example to all believers in what you say, in the way you live, in your love, your faith, and your purity."