Leaving a Legacy

For the past month or so, the idea of leaving a legacy has really been on my mind. The theme has popped up everywhere for me. This past Sunday the idea of a legacy really came true for me. When I was at Southwestern College, I remember doing a large group series about leaving a legacy, and on the first large group, Chris Wheatley mentioned that he had a teacher in high school that left a legacy, or finger-print, in him as well as many other students the teacher worked with. And, although the program he was in wasn't meant to be a Christian program, it taught many of the students the character of God's love. This teacher for him, was someone who left a legacy in him, and was one of the earlier things that taught him to love.

This past Sunday at church I was given the opportunity to share my plans for this summer with the congregation. As I was sharing, I couldn't help but notice that my fourth grade teacher was sitting towards the front right side of the congregation, and all I could see was tears in her eyes. Afterwards she gave me a hug and said how proud she was of me for going on missions this summer.

I really feel that, as Chris had someone to leave a legacy in him, my fourth grade teacher is someone that has left a lasting fingerprint on me. From fourth grade, all the way until I found New Hope Church, I had no idea that she was a Christian, but seeing her at my job was a crazy experience, and once I knew that she was Christian, everything seemed to come together for me. It makes complete sense that fourth grade was the grade that I started actually getting A's on my report card. It was the grade where I received super citizen and super scholar awards multiple times in the year. And, it was the grade where I had an amazing teacher, that instilled a good sense of character in me, with encouragement and partnering. I look back and see that the reason I love writing, was because in the fourth grade, I had trouble with a short story, and she gave me a good start, and I was able to finish it, and she encouraged me so much with how much she enjoyed the finished product.

So, it makes complete sense to me now, that this person was in my life at the time she was. To leave an amazing legacy and to plant a finger print for God to use in the future. A lot of who I am today, is based on what I learned in the fourth grade.

It means so much to me, to know that throughout this entire journey, she would be there, so proud of me, 12 years later, as I'm taking a new journey in my life. So, thank Mrs Sanders, so much for planting the fingerprint on my spiritual walk and identity.

May the God of hope and peace and love bless each of you as He uses each of you to plant your own legacy in this world in His name. Would God's love be planted like a tree, branch by branch, among His beloved children and may these legacies leave fingerprints of spiritual identity in you all.