Bright Spot: Don't lament your legacy, change it!

The comic strip “Zits” showed the perpetually cynical teen playing with an age enhancer program. When he entered his picture and advanced it 30 years the image that popped up looked just like his dad. Horrified, Jeremy sobbed: “Just shoot me!”

There’s an overused TV commercial that tries to prevent us from becoming our parents. But the reality is many of us are there already, for better or worse. That gladdens my kids at times and saddens them at other times.

As I just passed my decadal birthday plus one (the Class of ’71 at 71), and as we approach Mother’s Day, I pondered my mother and the concept of “legacies.” What of her has been passed to me?

I miss her … and dad. They both left a great godly legacy of hard work and humor. Mom toiled outside and inside the home, never worrying that her gender made an average 78 cents for every dollar a man earned.

The stone marker I put on a little memorial garden for her has this Bible verse inscribed: “She did what she could.” (Mark 14:8) It’s a simple epitaph that describes her legacy. She toiled tirelessly to use what God gave her to bless others.

One of the most frequent questions God asks His followers in the Bible is: “What do you have?” He doesn’t ask “What do you wish you had … what did you used to have … what has been stolen by age or accidents?” He asks “Whatcha got? Give that!”

I want to generously share that which God has blessed me. My mother surely did. I pray a lot of her lives on in me.

I had a “legacy alert” some time ago. A group exercise assigned us was to list the attributes of all other group members. Thinking they were being complimentary, several listed “qualities” that I hope will never be etched on my tombstone.

Returning home and whining to my wise wife, she challenged me sympathetically (not!): “Then change your legacy by changing your life!”

Each day we are leaving our legacy in ways we may or may not want. Let’s borrow from Ben Franklin, who evaluated what he’d accomplished each day before he went to sleep. God’s Holy Word exhorts us: “Teach us to number our days aright that we may gain a heart of wisdom.” (Psalm 90:12).

The word “number” is an accountant’s term which means “invest.” It’s also a shepherd’s word for counting your flock in a way that you don’t lose even one. To number my days, I want to point people to Jesus more consistently. He said if I did, He would draw people to Himself. (John 12:32)

When the fast forward button takes me to the end of my earthly days, I want find I’ve left a lasting legacy intentionally vs. accidentally. (Deuteronomy 6:6-7)

Rick Sams is pastor emeritus of Alliance Friends Church.

This article originally appeared on The Repository: Bright Spot: Don't waste time worrying about your legacy, change it