Legacy... How will they remember me.

My work has a work intranet that folks can post announcements, photos or random blog posts.  Last week a gentleman posted a blog entry about Milton Hershey and his legacy of Love. 

It was a nice tribute to on how Milton gave his wealth away and how he loved..

I was moved to post a comment that said:  The great thing about a legacy is we never quite know what it'll look like... and the only legacy worth having is one pointing back to Christ. 

It's so easy to be discouraged when you're not a wealthy successful business person who can financially give to great organizations.. but even just my short time here at I have gotten to see some legacies in action...  Then I highlighted a few people and how they are loving others.

I struggle with my legacy daily .. and I love how as I mature in Christ, I am starting to see that Jesus is the only legacy worth living for. 

 For too long, I have been trying to make a name for myself and chase dreams that I think will fulfill my time here. 

As I reach closer to 40, I am wondering how much of my life is pointing to Christ… and how much of my life is for my own legacy.

Gesso

As an occasional painter, I've been known to take an old painting and paint over it.

There's a product called white gesso and it's purpose is to prime a canvas for oil painting and pre-prime and old paintings to be used again.

It hides all the color that is under it but it doesnt hide the texture or previous strokes.

Often times in life we have to somewhat start all over again.  Perhaps it's restarting after a bad relationship, or a medical procedure that had left you different than before, or a job or career that hasn't really fulfilled you.  Most of the time we find ourselves wanting to cover up a major mistake.

Sometimes we wish life had a gesso option.  Something that could cover up everything that was there before.  A new start...

As for me, I know it's my sinful heart that longs for the whiteness and freshness of a new clean canvas.  One thing that often gives me great comfort is... Jesus is my gesso. 

He paid for my sins and his life makes me white again and covers my iniquities.  Much like the gesso coving up a old painting.  He covers it.  My scars are much like the texture of the paint.. still there but covered and healed.  I'm able to be new through him.

I'm ok with being pre-prime over and over again as long ... as it takes to become that masterpiece God has in store for me.  I'm his work of art and he is at work.

Building blocks

When I was a kid, I loved building things out of wooden blocks. 

Mostly I would build houses and lay down blocks to design floor plans.  I would lay out each room, then I would bring in with my little wooden people and have them occupy my creation.

Lately, I've been thinking about building people rather than building things out of blocks.

People can be just as fragile as my houses built out of kid blocks.  One easy brush and they fall down.  It's far too easy to year people down. 

I'm constantly looking at ways I can do the latter and build people up.  I challenge my (hot tempered) husband to do the same.  We both struggled with tearing people down rather than building them up.   It's too easy to tell your teenage daughter that she's not capable of doing something rather than inspiring her to reach for the stars.

When you think about the life of Jesus.. He always built people up (except for the hypocritical Pharisees... He tried to tear them down...) He healed, hung out and encouraged the broken lives around him daily. 

The next time you are in a situation to say something ugly or say something lovely.

  

Choose to build up...

On a mission

13 years ago... My husband and I were in the process of becoming overseas missionaries.  We were pretty far along in the process, approved by our mission agency, blessed by our elders, and waiting the call from missionaries in Latin America.

We knew we had many things to overcome to make it a reality but we were willing and able.  We never thought God was going to shut the door as far as he opened it.

Spring of 2006 - was the worst season of our lives.  When we heard the word "cancer" we crumbled.  We didn't know what to expect but we also found out we were "expecting."

Between having a baby, termites, job loss and cancer - we closed the door in great great sadness.

God used us in some pretty amazing ways but there has also been a small void in my life wondering what it would been like to serve him in the field. 

Almost every day of my life, I keep asking God ... "What am I supposed to be doing?"
Why does it feel like I'm failing at my calling.. whatever that may be. 

Deep down I know he's guiding me through but through each season and as I slowly get older and older... I'm left wondering what's my mission.  

Encouragement.. it's free

I've had some great people on my life who've really been there to encourage me when I needed it the most. There have also been times when I had no one really there encouraging.

When going through a trial or even just a season of disappointments it important to find people who help encourage you.  

However, it's almost more important to remember that you're also called to help build people up and encourage... Even when you yourself are feeling a bit down.

It doesn't cost anything to tell someone they're awesome or doing a great job or they are valued.   I'm sure most people feel unimportant, useless or redundant more often than they would like to admit. 

We're human and vulnerable. So be there reason someone smiles today... Might even make you feel pretty good yourself.