A Legacy | Annette Kristynik

When I was a young person the thought of a legacy seemed far away, remote, something elderly people leave when they have a will. Yet, as I’ve grown older and a bit wiser, I’ve learned that legacy is much more. In my opinion a legacy is how people will remember me, what mark I’ve left in other people, have I made a difference? Most importantly, legacy is how I’ve lived out my life, specifically my walk with Jesus.

Once upon a time I was a careful if not passive observer of people. I studied people, such as the words they used, or their actions, even if those actions were timid or evasive. I did not though observe other people or myself in light of a legacy.

The definition of legacy in the Oxford Pocket American Dictionary is a bit benign, “a gift left in a will, or something handed down by a predecessor.” In the The Synonym Finder by J. I. Rodale. The synonym words given are: “bequest, inheritance, patrimony, bequeath, will, heritage.”

I love two of these words, “heritage and inheritance.”

Heritage means, “anything that is or may be inherited.”

Inheritance from the word inherit means to, “receive by legal succession, derive a quality or characteristic.”

The legacy of my mother has impacted me the most in my life. Her legacy (heritage and inheritance) was of love and faithfulness to her family and to Jesus.

She left other important legacies as well: cooking, housecleaning, the love of reading, how to be a daughter and a wife and a mother and a grandmother and a mother in-law. My mother was lady-like, gracious, sweet-tempered, gentle, and forgiving. Yet, it was her love and faithfulness that out-shone all the other traits in her character.

I could have a mind-set of honoring my mother’s legacy, which I feel would be focused on giving her honor and glory. I would rather have my focus on Jesus, because He alone deserves all honor and glory and praise, and I know my mother would agree.

Legacy seems like such a daunting task. A responsibility that can become entangled with material things we could leave behind for our loved ones. When we are gone and the money is spent, how will we be remembered?

There are two legacies I would like to be leave and be remembered by, love and faithfulness.

I want to be remembered as a daughter and mother and wife and grandmother and sister and friend, who loved extravagantly and unconditionally. I consider myself to be an approachable person, I try to not judge, after all I too will be held accountable for the things I’ve done and or failed to do. More than being approachable I want to be known as a person who has loved selflessly and faithfully.

To be faithful means I must be a person that is trustful, dependable, responsible. I don’t want to be faithful in just big things, but in the everyday small things. Those small things that in the scheme of life wouldn’t stop the train (so to speak), but to my family they are important. Being faithful also means that even when someone else you love has treated you horrible, or betrayed you, you don’t get even, you persevere onwards being faithful. Being faithful means that even when you are called to do something you don’t want to do, or you don’t have time to do, or it is a task that will change your life, you do it anyway. Being faithful means that you are faithful not just when you want to be, or on a good day, but you are faithful in all circumstances.

When I’m at the end of my life I will not look back thinking “gosh I wish I’d traveled more, or finished my college degree.” Instead, I will hope I was faithful to the responsibilities I’d been given, and that I loved with all that I had.

I can’t close this without stating the most important factor in leaving a legacy of love and faithfulness. If I’ve lived out this kind of life for a puffed up ego and so that people will brag about me after I’m gone, it would all be for naught. People eventually forget, they move on, but God does not forget.

“I will not forget you! See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands;”

Isaiah 49:15b-16a. NIV

“God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have helped his people and continue to help them.”

Hebrews 6:10 NIV

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Annette Krisynik: Wife, mother, grandmother, caregiver to dad. I’m a voracious reader, write book reviews and critical reviews, write Christian non-fiction reviews for The Christian Manifesto, fitness training. Connect with Annette at: http://impressionsinink.blogspot.com and http://awell-wateredgarden.blogspot.com