Legacy

1. Anything handed down from the past, as from an ancestor or predecessor: the legacy of ancient Rome.

2. An applicant to or student at a school that was attended by his or her parent.Obsolete. the office, function, or commission of a legate.

Each year someone momentous and significant to the human his-story leaves this Earth with a legacy as a souvenir, they are offered tweets, texts and countless flowers. In return, we ponder and ruminate what they leave us, what we remember of them, how we met them, spoke with them, learned of them and so on. We reflect on the moments in life that showed us who they were.

A good man leaveth an inheritance to his children’s children” – Proverbs 13:22

Last year I attended the homegoing of a Remarkable woman, a woman so impactful upon my generation and others and I sat in the church and looked knowingly into the faces that felt the same sobering fact. A facet of her remarkability was that she understood she had a responsibility. A responsibility to those she never knew the names of, passed in the supermarket, brought into the World and lovingly served. This responsibility was to live, and to live life abundantly.

This responsibility was not dependent on circumstance or audience, it was not dependant on comfort and convenience. It sprung from a graceful heart. She had a responsibility to be everything that God had chosen her to be, to abound in every moment in life and never miss an opportunity to speak a word of strength, wisdom and love to those she encountered. That, was her legacy.

I sat in the pew listening to my grandfather speak of his generation, a community of people from the West Indies who welcomed those who came to call without an “appointment”, he spoke of the joy found in companionship and true love and un-related brother and sisterhood that will always make some people Aunty & Uncle. With each word; he bestowed a responsibility upon us all to reflect upon the rush of our lives, the push button culture that often leaves us void of the beauty of true friendship and family. We rush here and there and put things into calendar events attempting to make time longer; nevertheless receiving the same amount of time but devoid of depth and connection.

We must remember, memories are often an unplanned gift. He spoke not in any patronising way but to insist that we are who we decide to be, it is not too late to take up the mantel and carry the weight of the women and men that came before us often from a far place who lived life; and at the Sunset, they left a legacy that gives a cocktail of intimidation and empowerment to us all to take our place as ancestors of greatness.

But greatness, the quiet kind that is spoken of lovingly over a cup of tea or smile. Just a smile or embrace. Understand this is just one journey of greatness, each culture has had its trial and has had many triumphs, not just those from the West Indies. There is a strength that has existed in all humanity through time that is often forgotten in the rat race of life.

Through my moments of reflection and prayer that followed, I now understand that responsibility will lead you to your legacy. The impact you leave behind so that those remaining not only to know that you existed and were here, but who you were whilst here, on Earth. So I challenge you, what is your responsibility? Who have you decided to be here on Earth? Devoid of CV’s, profiles, groups, associations, opening statements and elevator pitches.

Sit mute in the room of your life and let the others talk, sit mute in the room of colleagues, spouse, children, family and friends and let the others talk and once all is said and done, listen, ruminate, reflect and continue on your way, responsibly and purposefully.

I come from greatness I will never be ashamed of, a generation of God-loving women and men who never let the doors close on a friend, shared everything they had and pushed forward with a light and grace untainted by the turbulence of life. I dedicate this thought to each one of them, and share this thought as another impact of their legacy because a good man leaveth an inheritance to his children’s children” – Proverbs 13:2