Everyone leaves a legacy—something they will be remembered by. It could be the things a person did, or the places they went. It could be a person’s successes or failures, or it could be how they gave of their time, talent, or resources. Legacy is what a person leaves behind as an example for others to either follow or avoid. Legacies are necessary for future generations to know what to do and what not to do as they learn from the successes and failures of those who have gone before them.

Whether they realize it or not, parents leave legacies and memories that will be passed down to future generations. For instance, some will leave their children the legacy of a family business, a trust fund, or a philanthropic heart. Some will leave a legacy of love as a devoted spouse and parent. Others will leave a legacy of fear, insecurity, or pain and suffering because of negligence or abuse in their marriage or parenting. What about you? What kind of legacy will you leave?

Did you know that you are in the process of creating your legacy every day? Whether it’s the great stories you tell at bedtime, the way you wake them in the morning with a song, your strong business acumen, or your humility when you succeed or make mistakes. Those memories will be part of your legacy. But the greatest legacy you can leave is a godly legacy. What could be greater than being known by your children, and your children’s children, as someone who loved the Lord and lived to please Him, and who encouraged and equipped your children to do the same? Now that’s a legacy with eternal value—a legacy to remember.