Legacy.

What do you want your legacy to be?

This has been a question running through my head since my son was born. My plans and ideas have shifted over time, but one theme remains constant, I want him to be proud of me. I want Levi to grow up to be proud of his dad.

That might not sound strange to many of you, but I find it interesting. It’s interesting how we grow up, longing and striving for our parents to be proud of us. We want approval and acceptance, respect and praise. Sometimes this desire fades as you get older, sometimes it intensifies, but we have all experienced this feeling at some point in our lives.

Fast forward to the moment where you are catapulted into the parent role, you have a little one that is seeking your love and attention, just wanting to make you proud. At that exact same moment, I have felt a shift in my own focus to make my son proud. My son is not even a year old as I write this and I am striving for his love, respect, and acceptance.

It is not that I think my soon-to-be-toddler that can’t walk or talk yet knows better than me. It’s not that I’m looking for a pat on the back or an “atta boy” from my child. No, it is that I want him to be proud to call me his father. Period.

When I am gone, I want him to remember me as a loving, generous, engaged father that was intentional with my time, words, and actions. I want my son to find wisdom in my words and encouragement in my voice. I want my son to grow up wanting to be like Dad, then come to realize that he wants to be even better than Dad. I want him to learn from my mistakes as much as my successes. I want him to learn from my shortcomings and my strengths. I want him to learn from what I have learned. I want to share my insights and thoughts and I want to show him on a daily basis how a Christ following man leads and loves a family. I want my words to be backed up by my actions. I want to be an example for him to build on. I want him to be a better man than me but more importantly, I want him to become his own man.

Levi is going to grow up in the most connected, fast paced world we have ever seen. Information is going to be instantly accessible, ideas are going to be diverse, and social influence and pressure is going to be like nothing we have ever seen before. It is for this very reason that I want Levi to have to look no further than across the dinner table to find a positive role model, a mentor, or a friend depending on what the situation calls for.

At its simplest form, I want my son to know Jesus, I want him to know how to love, and I want him to know how to work. Everything else will take care of itself.

Everyone leaves a legacy. Some legacies fade away, while others have a lasting, generational impact on the trajectory of their families, friends, businesses, or communities.

Have you thought about your legacy?

Perhaps your legacy goals are different. Maybe yours includes a business you have built or a community you are involved in. Maybe you don’t have kids and you desire to be remembered as a loving spouse or a dependable friend. It could be with the little league team you coach or the client you serve. It could be through your church, your mission work, or the charity you volunteer with. Maybe you have generosity goals to make a financial impact on your family or a charity.

The bottom line is, your legacy will be unique to you. Don’t try to match or copy someone else’s legacy. Set your own goals and live with intentionality every day.

Legacy is not something that happens when you die, it is a result of what happens while you live.