Leaving A Legacy

In the 1300s at Cambridge University in England, a chapel was constructed for one of the colleges. The vaulted roof supported by huge beams fashioned from old-growth oak.  Seven hundred years later, the beams had deteriorated so much that the roof was in danger of collapsing.  The building required extensive renovation, including replacing these large oak beams.  Where could they find giant oak trees of such an age and quality of the original ones?

The answer--the original builders of the chapel had known this day would come so they planted acorns in the church yard. Over the centuries, a grove of trees had grown to full maturity. The vision of those chapel builders to ensure the survival of the chapel extended hundreds of years into the future.  Leaving a Legacy is making a contribution that will impact future generations including your family and others that you may never know.

Have you thought about what you want to leave behind or pass on from the wisdom learned in your life? This is a deeply personal and meaningful aspect of your life. Building a legacy is about the impact you have on the world and the lasting impression you make on others. 

Part of my life's work has been enriching family relationships, bringing joy into others' marriage, parenting, and life. A recent project that I am part of is "A Deeper Connection," a podcast that supports the healing and strengthening of the parent and child relationship. The podcast is hosted by Crescentia DeGoede and myself in collaboration with the Blessing & Family Ministry of Family Fed, USA. Interviewing parents and adult children, our goal is to share lessons learned and steps forward for all families. So far, we have five podcasts with more to come. Please listen to the experience of others:
bfm.familyfed.org/a-deeper-connection-podcast

Next week, read the blog for ideas on leaving your own legacy.

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