The Legacy of Kindness

“He’s already made it plain how to live, what to do,

    what God is looking for in men and women.

It’s quite simple: Do what is fair and just to your neighbor,

    be compassionate and loyal in your love,

And don’t take yourself too seriously—

    take God seriously.” (Micah 6:8 MSG)

The last piece of our ancestral homestead in India is being sold right now. The old, empty house had been torn down years ago and there was no one to take care of the land. All the children and grandchildren grew up and moved far away. I am feeling a bit sentimental about this symbolic loss. It has made me think about concepts of legacy. 

Legacy is what we leave behind after we pass on from this earth. We may inherit material possessions, memories, ideals, wisdom, talent--as well as negative things like debt, disgrace, or suffering. Mostly we think of legacy as how we are remembered.  Thus, we try to shine a light on our honorable contributions while concealing our shame. 

What if our gifts to this world go unnoticed? Does this make them less real? I believe that every moment of thoughtfulness, every encouraging word, and every act of kindness can make a difference--whether or not they are recognized or remembered. Each day is an opportunity to spread goodness, decency, fairness, compassion, loyalty, and love. The legacy of kindness is the most precious endowment we can leave on this earth.