“Come, my children, and listen to me, and I will teach you to fear the Lord” Psalm 34:11

If we have children, how can we leave them a positive legacy? A legacy is an inheritance handed down from one generation to the next. In a legal sense, a legacy is a deposition of personal property that is made by terms of a will. But a real legacy goes beyond material things, and its impact is usually much deeper. Our legacy will have a powerful influence on the lives of those who follow us.

The most important legacies are not monetary but emotional, spiritual and moral. They center around the character of the person leaving them. Legacies from the past affect a family’s future. We all know families with long-standing reputations of good character – kindness, honesty and decency. On the other hand, we all know families who received a negative legacy of character and behavior – perhaps dishonesty, lack of a strong work ethic, or poor relationship choices. While we like to believe that an individual can overcome any disadvantage, the legacy we receive can be either a blessing or a curse on our lives.

Psalm 34 talks about the ultimate blessing we can give our children: teaching them to love and serve the Lord. We do that through reading and talking, but most of all through modeling. What changes do you need to make in your life or in your relationship as a couple in order to leave a positive legacy for your children?

Father, it’s good to stop and think about what I’m teaching my children – and how that lines up with the lessons I want o leave them. Please show me where I need to change. Guide me as I seek to leave my children a positive legacy.

This devotion is taken from The One Year Love Language Minute Devotional by Gary Chapman.