I am an open book.
A book filled with laughter, colorful stories, family bonding and beautiful memories. A book filled with bedlam moments, loneliness, heartbreak and continual processing.
Our family story stretches through chapters of both celebrations and difficult life lessons.
An intentional legacy stamps each page, yet as you leaf through the chapters, you’ll notice those pages are worn down, tear stained and dog eared from living life. If you look closer, you’ll notice a few pages torn out, but then taped back as a reminder.
My story is still being written, and I have no idea of the ending.
I’d love for it to be a page turner for sure, but I do know one thing, a dusty book sitting on the night stand does absolutely no good.
If you don’t like how that story started, you can change it, starting today.
When I speak my heart on leaving a lasting family legacy, there’s always someone that shares their hurt and pain over their lack of a legacy. They feel they weren’t given any guidance by their parents and are swirling trying to determine how to do this for their own family.
I can’t even imagine what they are going through – the pain of relationships, the lack of spiritual foundation, a myriad of issues, and I wish I could help re-write those first chapters, but the beauty of a leaving a legacy, of determining the family culture and traditions that you desire to cultivate, is that it begins today.
It’s a choice.
Today – Right where you are.
Right with the family you’ve been given. Whether you are married or a single mom, you begin anew, today. No more “If only’s or what if’s.”
It doesn’t matter how your story began or where it came from. You can’t choose that. Your “happily ever after” may not be a reality right now, but the choices you make beginning today, sets the course for generations to come and you choose how you will live it.
Your real legacy of life begins today.
So whether you are just writing the first page or nearing the end of your series, we are in this together.
Won’t you join me? Let’s dust off those pencils and get writing a new chapter.
Isaiah 43:19 Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it?
Following your 31 days… I’m a mom of two boys, 4 and 15 months. I’m doing my best to prioritize my life because I know their days with me are but a fleeting moment!
I love this! And I love this that you wrote because it is so true,
“It doesn’t matter how your story began or where it came from. You can’t choose that. Your “happily ever after” may not be a reality right now, but the choices you make beginning today, sets the course for generations to come and you choose how you will live it.”
You are so right. We cannot change where we came from, but we can start today on changing the course we are going on. So true!
Hi! I am Lydia from India. I am new to your blog and this was the first post i received in the mail. I am recently married and have been struggling with a bad start. My parents and sibling for reasons of their own, were not happy with my fiance and decided to oppose the marriage. After a long battle, I had to get married without them which in India, is a huge deal. Lately, there has been progress in rebuilding the relationship but I have been struggling. Bitterness, regret, unforgiveness, anger…. all the what ifs. And this blog was exactly what I needed. Thank you.
Lydia -thank you so much for sharing. I know the huge ramifications that you must have faced not having your family’s blessing, but I am so thrilled to hear that there are baby steps towards restoration. I understand it will be a long road, but I also I know now how I can be praying for you and I definitely will.
@Lydia, Lydia – lifting you and your family in prayer this morning.
Jen
Wow, can I relate to the end of your post. I felt many times that I grew up without a legacy, or more so that it stopped. I am not sure why but the commitment to family and faith and leaving a legacy stopped early in my life. I was very intentional about pursuing it as an adult and when seeking a mate. You are right, it takes opening the book and writing a new chapter. I have to be different on purpose and I have to change some habits on purpose. I have to apologize when the thing I do doesn’t work and be brave enough to try again. It is hard and it is work but is is SO WORTH IT! I am looking forward to your thirty days.
You are BRAVE!! Keep on, keeping on because it’s WORTH IT. (Even when some days, we question that truth)
Thank you for this today. God has been telling me the same thing. Even at 31 feeling rejection of still tryin to have a relationship with my parents it does affect my parenting and how I view myself. God is trying to teach me to let it go. He can love me better than my parents! Some days are harder than others but making it a choice and a priority is what’s most important.
It may be a tad obvious that I love this because my tag line to my blog is “Leaving a legacy, one memory at a time.” My mother abandoned me when I was 7 and my dad died of ens stage liver disease when I was 24. I know what it is like to have felt like I did not have a legacy. As I continue on in my journey as a wife and mother I realize I do have a legacy and I am working like a mad lady to make sure the legacy I leave behind does not mirror that of my past.
oh friend – I can not even imagine, but the beauty with your story is that your kids will never ever have that worry because YOU are leaving that legacy for them. Thank you for choosing not to let bitterness and regret stand in the way of all that you for your kids.
I happened upon this article for a reason! I have been making myself sick for a long time, trying to find the reason why I feel hopeless and let depression sneak into my life…This article gives ME hope!! What you said right here “It doesn’t matter how your story began or where it came from. You can’t choose that.” I find myself having a pity party a lot lately. My dad passed away due to a heart attack at 30yrs old and me being 3 yrs old, I lost my mom 5 short years ago and I lost my step dad who raised me as his own just a little over a year ago. My grand parents who also played a huge part in my life are gone as well. But, I believe that me happening upon this post is a God thing! Thank You so much!
oh Michelle – I am SO glad the Lord directed you here and that these words were an encouragement to you. I can’t imagine losing both parents and your step day. So sorry for your losses, but YOU start your own legacy!!