I like the idea of leaving a spiritual legacy for my children.
While reading Desperate: Hope for the Mom Who Needs to Breathe by Sarah Mae and Sally Clarkson, I found this at the end of chapter 12, “Living on Purpose.”
“In your journal, list five ways you want to leave a legacy to your children. (For example: loving relationships, moral excellence, a vibrant faith, etc.) Under each area write at least two practical goals or ways you will implement your plan this year. Make a six-month plan for specific ways you will establish routines or traditions to build these goals into your schedule.”
Since I know I have a better chance of following through on a shorter list, I decided to designate three areas in which I’d like to leave a legacy for my children.
1. A generous spirit.
– Every month, our daughters can do a few extra projects to earn money, with the specific purpose of giving the money to a needy family, a missionary, etc.
– Emphasize sharing with others – inside and outside of the family – with everything from possessions to candy to time.
2. A grateful heart.
– Buy the girls their own “gratitude journal” and each night before we do our bedtime reading, they can write down at least one thing for which they’re thankful.
– Have the girls write at least one thank you note a month, expressing gratitude to another person. I need to assign this to the first day of the month so I won’t forget!
3. A knowledge of who God is.
– During the summer, we can study an attribute of God each month and work together to memorize a verse about that attribute.
– Continue our after supper family devotional time.
What spiritual legacy would you like to leave your children?
Nikki says
May 15, 2013 at 12:51 pmThat is such a great idea! I'm going to have to think about implementing it, too!
Those are three legacies I would like my children to have, as well, but most importantly who God is and what He has done for us.
Mama S says
May 16, 2013 at 12:33 pmOh I really really LOVE that book, it was such a good read 🙂
Tracey says
May 16, 2013 at 9:13 pmI agree! Even though I've moved through much of the season of mothering "little ones," this book was a great encouragement. I would definitely recommend it for other moms – especially those with two or more very young children.
Sues says
May 16, 2013 at 6:11 pmBEAUTIFUL!!!!!!!!!