A Legacy

“For thus says the Lord God, the Holy one of Israel: ‘In returning and rest you shall be saved; in quietness and confidence shall be your strength.'” Isaiah 30:15a

Legacy is defined as something that is handed down or remains from a previous generation or time. I wondered, how do we even begin to leave a legacy?

I was thinking about a friend who recently went home to be with the Lord after suffering from a terminal illness. Several weeks before she was on hospice care, all she could do was basically move from her bed to sit all day in her chair in her living room. Not long before she died, she declared, “All I can do now is just rest and trust.”

Those simple words stuck with and somehow impacted me. She had no idea she was ministering to me as I later remembered those simple words, REST and TRUST. She didn’t realize she was leaving a legacy, but she was. Nor was she probably aware of how her steadfast commitment to love and trust Jesus in her last days would affect her unbelieving sister who lived next door and spent countless hours caring for her. I purposed in my heart to remember those words when trying times would come to me in the future.

We may never know the impact of simple words we share. In our present circumstances of unrest, division and chaos all around us, we have no control over the outcome of our future here on this earth. But we do know we can have peace in the midst of these trying times. Jesus tells us simply, “Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid” (John 14:27).

I was impressed how my friend, as her body grew weaker, found strength to endure and accept her last days here on earth by resting and trusting in the Lord. I know she was looking for that blessed hope of soon seeing Jesus face to face.

What can any of us really do except pray and obey, then trust and rest in Him? What better witness can we manifest to those who do not yet know the love of God?

The bottom line for me is this: we all leave a legacy by just living. People will hear the words we speak and observe how we react or respond to circumstances.

“Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven” (Matthew 5:16).

Lord, You tell us that life and death are in the power of the tongue, so may our words, simple as they may be at times, bless someone and reflect Your heart and Your love.