Your Legacy

If you know me, you know I dwell on things. Some might say I over-analyze things. But, I guess that's what I've been doing the past several days. I keep dwelling on, "What will your legacy be when you die?" Morbid I know. But, I think about it in how I LIVE my life currently. One of my pet peeves is when someone dies, people start talking about what a great person the deceased was despite that they were an alcoholic or had affairs or stole or had anger issues or was unreliable. Obviously, when I pass away, I hope people have long since forgotten my snarky tone (the thing I seem to always be working on but never improve) and instead remember me as someone who was quick to love but slow to anger, someone who made others (even strangers) feel valued. 

Our pastor's message this morning was about griping. And I admit, I can be a griper (especially during the school year). But, the past year or so, I've constantly asked myself, "Is that important?" or "Will this be something that matters in 10 years?" If it's not, I either choose to let it go or try to address it and then let it go (so I don't dwell on it). Too many people these days get angry or gripe over dumb things. Things that won't matter in 10 years. BUT,maybe what they don't realize, is how they will be remembered in how they dealt with it. Let's take road rage for instance. I very rarely get riled up when I'm driving because it's not worth it to me. The way I see it is I can either get somewhere a few minutes later than planned or if I rage someone may pull a gun on me or the boys over a driving issue. I'd much rather arrive a little late than not at all. Several months ago a guy pulled into a parking spot I had used my turn signal for, that I was waiting for, in the Kroger parking lot. I was hot! I waited for him at the entrance of the store to give him a piece of my mind and his response was, "It's not that big of a deal. Get over it." I was mad because of the principle of the matter, of how he made me feel. But, then I realized that I let him win by festering about it when he had obviously already moved on. This year, at school, I finally gave in and let students chew gum. I don't agree with it because they never seem to get the chewed up gum in the garbage can, but that's not a hill I'm willing to "die on". 10 years from now it won't matter if there was gum under a desk or on the floor. 

I think, the older I get, the more I realize that some things just aren't that big of a deal. Issues aren't worth getting worked up about, and letting someone else "win". I'm not that insecure that I have to worry about "winning" an issue, especially with a stranger. Our boys' salvation and walk with the Lord is a BIG DEAL to me so I try to live my life in a way that witnesses to others and is pleasing to the Lord. Holding our boys accountable for the way they treat others or show integrity is important to me. I want them (and me) to make a great first impression because that, in turn, becomes a witness to someone.

So, I guess my question to you is, what will your legacy be? How will people remember you? Do you make people feel loved and valued or will people have to try hard to remember you in a loving a way? Make today count for how your legacy will be in the future.