I once thought my blogging days were behind me. About six months into the Covid-19 pandemic, I tucked this space away quietly while my focus shifted elsewhere (perhaps I’ll write more about that in a future post). Then time just slipped away, like it often does, and years had passed by.
Creating, exploring, writing, and my One Word Faith project never left my heart during those years. I just didn’t hear the calling in the same way and in full transparency, I wasn’t listening to the Spirit as intently as I once did.
Then a few months ago, the calling returned: I heard the Spirit’s whisper encourage me to revive this blog. To once again journal my faith explorations and share them publicly.
The stirrings began in the days and weeks following my brother’s death earlier this year. I found myself reflecting not only on the memories we shared but also on the pieces of his life I didn’t fully know—the parts of his story that may have slipped away with him. This led me to ponder on the concept of “Legacy”.
A legacy can be an amount of money or property left to someone in a will (leaving something material to someone). The broader definition of legacy is about the long-lasting impact of a person’s life, the imprint one leaves on the future.
I can look back and see that God left signs along the way pointing to this word…
Five years prior to his death, my brother requested that I become his “Legacy contact” for his Facebook account. He instructed me to “do what you think is necessary” and conveyed his confidence in me by saying “You know me well and I trust you.”
Regretfully, my brother and I weren’t as close in the years following that request. So much so, that at the time of his death, I doubted the statement of me knowing him well. The years leading up to that request were when we were closest.
The cause of that closeness? Our love for Christ. Our desire to grow in Faith. Our yearning to understand the Word. Our belief that “Wow” moments were God moments.
My brother was a strong supporter of One Word Faith. He invited Facebook friends to follow the blog’s page, he read and commented on my posts, and eagerly awaited my new material. I remember being especially nervous about one of my works and reached out to my brother for feedback on it before publishing. He provided affirmations and helpful advice that I incorporated into the final product.
A few weeks after his passing, the local newspaper wrote an article about him. Part of the title was “Building a Legacy.” The journalist shined a light on the ways my brother had been a helper in the unsheltered community in which he was a part of. He often served as a spokesperson; he especially saw himself as a protector. I was gifted a glimpse of his legacy – the impact of my brother’s final years of life – when I met some of the people in this community during a celebration of his life.
When I consider the role of being his “Legacy” contact and how intertwined his faith life was with mine during the first season of One Word Faith, I realized my blog is part of his legacy too.
I hadn’t really thought of this blog as being my spiritual legacy, let alone a piece of my brother’s. When I first began writing, it was simply a creative outlet, a way to process my thoughts about faith and share them with whoever might find interest in my journey. I hoped and prayed that a few people would be inspired to come along with me.
But now, I recognize that sharing my personal stories of faith and God’s work in my life become a testament to the power of grace and mercy. A legacy which can multiply and ripple out through future generations as the words carry the Love of God into places I’ll never be and into hearts I might never know.
The word “legacy” is not very biblical; that is, it’s not a word you will find in the Bible. However, scripture does reference “inheritance” frequently and these words are somewhat related. Inheritance is more about what we receive, while Legacy is about what we leave.
Scripture reminds us often that as children of God, we are heirs:
Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory. Romans 8:17
Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. This inheritance is kept in heaven for you. 1 Peter 1:3-4
For this reason Christ is the mediator of a new covenant, that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance. Hebrews 9:15
These verses point to something far greater than money or possessions. Our inheritance in Christ is eternal—unchanging, unfading, guaranteed. It’s not something we earn or accumulate; it’s a gift of grace, secured by His sacrifice.
As heirs, all that belongs to God is ours. All the blessings of heaven are ours.
We are royalty!
But what about legacy? If inheritance is what we receive through Christ, then legacy is what we leave behind because of Him. It’s the imprint of His Spirit at work in our lives through…
…the love we pour out
…the faith we live out
…the hope we pass on.
Our most important inheritance is not anything we receive on this earth, but the eternal life we have through Christ. I know my brother would agree with me on this!
As I think about legacies, I realize that my personal quest to honor my brother’s or to leave one myself must always take a backseat to exalting Christ’s. The truest and most enduring legacy is His—the cross, the resurrection, and the hope of salvation.
So, as I write here again, my prayer is simple: that in sharing glimpses of my journey, the threads of my life—woven with both joy and sorrow—I would somehow shine a light on the greater story:
God’s Love for us all.
Comments
5 responses
Dear Brother,
Thanks for trusting me. I did what was needed.
Forever your sister in blood and in Christ
Thank you! I’ve missed your poignant thoughts.
You are sweet to say so! Thanks for reading again!
Jesus Christ is the Way- You found Him and Brad found Him!! May our Faith be bigger than our Fears! 😍U
Amen!