I was reminded about the importance of legacy the other day when I came across this verse in my quiet time:
“The next section was repaired by the men of Tekoa, but their nobles would not put their shoulders to the work under their supervisors.” – Nehemiah 3:5 (NIV)
Two thoughts came to mind when reading this verse:
1. If you think you’ve got a bad job, check out what this guy had to do.
2. How we get along with people we don’t like and who don’t like us says the most about us.
You are creating your legacy every day.
Legacy is made in both the big and small stuff. You are forming your legacy when:
You avoid gossiping.
You are willing to let the best idea win, even when it’s not yours.
You show patience in front of your kids to the guy on his cell phone who just cut you off on the freeway.
You go out of your way to help someone even though they’ll never thank you for it.
You buy a homeless person lunch and sit down to talk with them like.
A lot of times we think of legacy in terms of who that building is named after or who was involved in what scandal, but your legacy isn’t just built in those moments. Legacy is built in all the small moments, behind the scenes, that lead up to those big moments. You are creating your legacy in every email, in every joke, and with every single person that you are connected to.
Question: What do you hope people will say about you at your funeral? Share your thoughts in the comment section below.
Jeff McClung 