2) Twelve years ago we celebrated Dad’s 80th birthday and Mom and Dad’s 60th Anniversary. My niece is incredibly good with technology. She produced a beautiful DVD of my in-law’s life together. Full of great pictures and great songs, this is a treasure to Dave and me. I have not watched since Mom’s homegoing, but I know it is there when I need to remember.
3) My niece is also researching her roots on an ancestry website. I know that a few years back she sat with my mother and father in-law and video taped them answering her questions about family and their memories. Unfortunately, she is also working on restoring that after her computer crashed! OH, NO!
4) While working at a local Christian bookstore, a customer came in every year to purchase a new Bible. She had eight grandchildren. Her project was to use a new Bible each year with one grandchild in mind. As she read through the Bible in a year, had her devotions, and took notes from church she prayerfully would highlight verses she wanted that child to know. She would write notes in the margins to that grandchild and write prayers on the inside covers. On that grandchild’s 18th birthday they would receive their Bible from Grandma.
5) There are books available that ask pointed questions so that you can write your personal history. From “What is your favorite color?” to “How did you come to know Jesus?” questions are asked with a space for you to provide your story.
6) Although only a thought, I have been thinking about writing letters to my children. They are not walking with the Lord. What if I don’t live to see them come to Jesus? What would I want to tell them?
7) Marilyn Heavilin, author, speaker and friend of America’s Keswick, loves to write her prayers in a journal. BUT, I heard her say that at year’s end she destroys her prayer journals so nothing too personal gets published! Share only what you would want them to know! Not every detail needs to be shared. Use your discernment.
These are just some ideas on how you might leave your teachings, beliefs and history as a gift to your loved ones. What legacy do you desire to leave? What legacy have you been given? While discussing this with Stephanie Paul, she noted how important it is for us to remember what we have been taught. Even if your parents were not Christians what did they teach you that was good? All too often we hear about how our parents did us wrong. Maybe we need to recall what they did right.
Blessings,
Kathy
