Ashes to Ashes
It’s not a terribly happy topic, but recently my husband and I have been talking about what would happen if one of us were to pass away. Neither of us are unwell and, being in our 30’s, hopefully have a good number of years (in) ahead of us but with four children in the mix, should the unthinkable happen the(n) one us, the surviving spouse would have a big job on their hands and I think it’s good to be prepared.
Beyond the terrible heartache and the obvious change to daily life a death in the family would bring, I’ve been thinking about the legacy I would be leaving behind and what my children will have to remember me by when I’m gone.
In loving memory
The dictionary defines legacy as something handed down from one generation to the next. It could be material items, finances, property or something less tangible like attitudes, culture or values. We often think of legacy as being something great and majestic but not everyone has a family fortune or a royal title to bestow – but that doesn’t mean they don’t have anything of value to pass on when they leave this life for the next.
Keeping it in the family
I was fortunate enough to know all four of my grandparents. All of them lived until I was an adult with children of my own. In material terms I didn’t receive much of an inheritance when they passed away. The things they left me were personal, cherished, and in many ways more valuable than any possession or “thing” could be. I inherited one grandmother’s love of giving unique names to her children and from her husband I was given a love of books and a shared favourite author. My other grandfather passed on fascination and passion for family history and words and from his wife I inherited her hair.
The one thing I have that was part of all of them is a shared faith. Each one had a faith in God that was core to who they were and how they lived. This is something that has been passed on to me through my parents and I will in turn pass it on to my children. The way we practice our faith may look different. The expression of what we believe may not follow the same patterns or processes but at the heart of what they believed, what my parents believe, and now what I believe, is the same faith.
In natural terms this may seem like a poor legacy to hand on, but in practice this is the most valuable thing they could have left for me, and the rest of the family that continues even though they are no longer around. My faith in God not only enriches my life and gives me hope and a promise for the future, but it also binds me to my family, gives me an identity and a sense of being part of something bigger than just myself.
Pass it on
We live in a time where only the privileged few seem to be able to leave anything of material substance to the next generation but that doesn’t mean leaving a legacy is no longer possible. What are you going to leave behind and how will your memory influence the next generation?