A Legacy Through Moments
By: CLINT FISHER, DEAN OF STUDENTS AND FAMILIES
It was such a gift to be able to hear from Crawford and Karen Loritts at our January Parent Equipping Night/Campus Meeting. If you missed it, the recording is available here: A Legacy Through Moments: Ten Pillars for Creating a Legacy. I listened to it again and found it to be just as rich as the first time.
Crawford and Karen introduced ten pillars upon which we can build our legacy: Vision, Modeling, Conviction, Relationship, Character, Challenge, Consequences, Releasing, Relevance, and Prayer. Crawford also returned to record a podcast where he continued to dive into these ideas and answered questions submitted during the event. You can listen to that podcast here.
DEVELOPING A LEGACY
As I listen to all this wisdom and advice, I think, “Where do I start?”; “Do I have a clear vision?”; “Do I have strong invested relationships?”; “Do I model what I want my children to become?”; “Have I set aside time to invest in them and pray for them?”
The questions just keep coming! And it can be overwhelming as we see the depth of our inabilities. May I suggest a place to start?
The most pressing question for me is, "How do I develop a legacy that extends even beyond my grandchildren?"
THROUGH CHALLENGES, EXAMPLES, AND RELATIONSHIPS
Personally, I need at least three things to help me in this venture. I need challenges, examples, and relationships.
I need challenges from God's Word to raise the standard in my own life and to challenge some of the values I hold deeply. God's Word is found in the Bible clearly, in His people brokenly, and in the world dimly (through the wisdom of others). And His Word should also be interpreted in that order. If this is all true, then I must not become unfaithful in seeking out His Word to renew my mind and sanctify me.
I also need the best examples of godliness I can find in the people around me. I should make time to learn from other people who have success in parenting, walking with God, and being humble. Through them, I can find greater vision, deeper wisdom, examples, and equipping.
Around all of this, I need relationships that will call me to be accountable to grow and work hard toward that eternal vision. I need people that will call me out when I become lazy, worldly-focused, discontent with God, and self-focused. I have found relationships like this in discipleship groups, through parents in my children’s classes, and by praying and actively seeking those people out in my life.