Over the weekend, I asked our 11-year-old to define “legacy”. She basically said it was an achieved goal. Goals are good to have and wonderful to achieve, but a legacy is much more than just a goal. A legacy can be a sum of money or property left in a will. But it’s also a person’s impact and the way they’ll be remembered.

When we were driving our girls to camp a couple weeks ago, Elizabeth drew a picture of me during Sunday worship. My only thought was how cool it is to see how your kids see you. We are always living in front of our kids, whether we realize it or not. I often wonder what memories my girls will take with them from their growing up years. What legacy are we leaving with them? What will they choose to carry on as their legacy?

Both sets of my grandparents left a lasting legacy of following Jesus. Over the weekend, I prayed that their legacy would not die with them or with their children but would be carried on for the future generations. Isaiah 59:21 is a prayer of legacy, one that we should pray over ourselves and our children:

Thank you, Father, that Your Spirit who is on me, and Your words that You have put in my mouth will not depart from my mouth, or from the mouths of my children, or from the mouths of their descendants from this time on and forever.

A legacy doesn’t have to be eons old to be carried forth. My mom’s dad was the first Christian in his family. My mom’s mom was a minister’s daughter. Together, they left us a legacy worth remembering and passing on: a legacy of walking with and living for Jesus.

You are living in front of your children and others. What legacy are you leaving them? Pray that it’s a legacy worth remembering, a legacy of walking with and living for Jesus.