Legacy

Did you ever think about what kind of footprint you will leave after your gone? I thought a lot about it this weekend. I'm pretty sure that I will only be a name on the family tree that future generations will fill out when they do the required school project. Yes, there I will be: Ms. Thing; 3rd wife to Mr. Thing; mother of Thing 1 and Thing 2.....and that's about it. I wonder if there will be anyone there to tell them about me. Of course, what would be newsworthy two or more generations down the line? Can't think of anything. HOPEFULLY, it will not be the way I died. I had much rather have it be the way I lived. I would consider it a successful life if it was because I was the mother of two men who turn out to be happy and productive citizens. I would be thrilled just to only be known as "She was the mother of _______." That would be a fabulous legacy. There is a scripture that says "and her children rise up and call her blessed". I don't see that happening much. The reason I have been delving into this self evaluation is that good old Facebook brought to my attention this weekend that people were talking about my Daddy. I had one of those third-handed updates that someone I had "befriended" had a note or left a comment from someone else and there was a link attached to that. This gal is actually a "friend of my sister" and drives me a little crazy by always telling us and anyone who will listen that we are cousins. (I have heard the story of how she figures this and I don't think I buy it. There is a common last name farther back and that's about it. But I digress.) Anyway, this one caught my eye as it was linked to the church my family attended. The minister was a man that Daddy took under his wing when he moved to our home town. He was a fresh faced kid who had gotten his first church. He was estranged from his family and quickly looked to my Dad as a father-figure and mentor and Daddy helped him to not screw things up too badly. Now he is a grandfather himself; still at the same church; and a distinguished member of the community. Anyway, he had preached a couple of sermons that were based on my Daddy's life and the way he lived it. Several people had written in some of their memories of Daddy. They spoke of their love for him and the way he showed love for others. These were random people. Not his children that miss him so much but others that his life had affected. I was so touched and proud. I left a comment thanking them for the kind words and more came in. Isn't that cool? Did I mention that my Daddy died over 26 years ago? Now that's a legacy! Maybe they will just say about me "Daughter and third child of _______." I would be good with that. Later.