These last few months I have been thinking quite a bit about leaving a legacy. My reflections on have been personal, as my siblings and I said good-bye to our mom, Rosana DiFelice, in June. Her passing came quickly over a three-week period of time; she had just turned 89 a few days before her death. We had always envisioned and planned for many scenarios, but the suddenness caught us by surprise.
Mom taught us so much through her example; her legacy was one of giving love and life. She was a nurse by training, raised eight rambunctious kids, and loved to garden. As a proud Austrian woman she mastered Italian cuisine! Somehow every Sunday there was always an extra plate for a visitor at our mobbed afternoon meals. Because of this, Mom will continue to shape and bless her seven living children, their spouses, 15 grandchildren, and 10 great-grandchildren for many years to come.
Through this process, I have been pondering the question, what is legacy?
Intuitively we know it is something of value and importance passed down from one person to another. Webster defines legacy as, “a gift by will especially of money or other personal property, something transmitted by or received from an ancestor or predecessor or from the past.” It is a gift and is intentional.
That is why it is valuable to plan ahead—what will your legacy be? Whether we realize it or not, we are investing in our legacy every day of our lives—planting seeds that will grow far beyond our time on earth, both the intangible and the tangible.
As you think about your legacy, pray that God will do more than you can ask or imagine (see Ephesians 3:20).
As always, call 1-888-283-0157 or email navlegacy@navigators.org with any questions.
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