Leaving a Godly Legacy

The Legacy of Finishing Well

BY KATHLEEN BARNETT

We are gliding into the day set apart to celebrate and sing the praises of mothers everywhere. Are you a mother, a grandmother, or a chosen woman who influences the younger generation in any way? The younger ones you will leave behind will forge ahead to influence the generation that follows them. Will they be able to say of you, “She finished well and showed us the way”?

I have a vision of “finishing well” and what it means. But to different people, it means different things. For instance, do you think it will matter to your family if you finish well with a cushy retirement? How about if finishing well means passing on a collection of coins that consistently increases in value? Maybe, for the sports enthusiast, finishing well would mean earning all the top trophies and awards. Or, for a person who thrives on approval or church leadership, it could mean unending accolades and commendations.

But for a committed and growing Christ-follower, finishing well encompasses more than fleeting material gain. In the end, it will be one’s character and faith that will speak the loudest and leave an impactful legacy.

In an online English course I am taking, our assignment was to read a chapter from “Deathless Lovers,” by Larry Woiwode. We examined the details that give away Woiwode’s attitude toward his grandmother. He highly admired, respected, and trusted her. She was an enduring comfort when his mother died. So instrumental in Woiwode’s life, her memorable scents, “dry pine needles, freshly baked bread, and wet clothes on her dress,” lingered in his mind and influenced his attitude toward the woman he would marry. The storyline, although a bit strange, proves a point. Those in your household may be watching you more closely than you are aware. (Quote from Larry Woiwode, “Deathless Lovers,” from the Neumiller Stories. New York: Penguin, 1989.)

My vision of finishing well is found in some simple self-questioning: How have I loved the Lord? Have I fulfilled God’s purpose for me here on earth? Have I reflected Christ-like character in my own home first? Is my spiritual house in order? Is my physical house in order (because you know, people look at the outward appearance, including messy closets)?

In the closing chapters of one’s life, an unfavorable medical diagnosis may not look like someone finishing well. In this season of my life, I am tested with such a diagnosis. My daughter was with me at the “reveal.” As I processed the unwelcomed news, I tended to overreact and so ranted to my daughter in a later phone conversation: “I need to get so much done! Sort through old files, gather important documents, put things in order. Clean out closets!”

When we both stopped laughing at my absurd reaction, I realized two things. I have a daughter who keeps me balanced and laughing at myself. And I have a God who is more than able to schedule my life and times. I smile. I will finish well! And the closets may or may not get done before the Lord calls me home.

Finishing well may be different for you, but I have found that the following mental guidelines help me to make it to the finish line. As a Christ-follower, I must:

1. Keep the faith: “I have fought the good fight. I have finished the race; I have kept the faith.” (2 Timothy 4:7 NIV)

2. Love well: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.” (Matthew 22:37 NIV)

3. Demonstrate a right attitude: “You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had.” (Philippians 2:4 NLT)

4. Find and fulfill God’s purpose: “Teach us to realize the brevity of life, so that we may grow in wisdom.” (Psalm 90:12 NLT) “For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” (Ephesians 2:10 NIV)

5. Keep my physical house in order: “For God is not a God of disorder but of peace.” (1 Corinthians 14:33 NIV)

If you have checked off items 1-4, your spiritual house is probably already in order. But what about your physical house? Is it true that “cleanliness is next to godliness?” If you do a Google search, you will find that the phrase was coined by John Wesley in 1791 in a sermon referencing the importance of spiritual cleanliness. But with a little bit of a stretch and a whole lot of lightheartedness, we can apply that axiom and 1 Corinthians 14:33 to keeping an orderly and clean physical house. This practice shows respect for yourself, your family, guests, and the God who provided all that surrounds you. The discipline of orderliness will be part of the legacy you and I will leave. Take a moment and look around. Is your home a welcoming sanctuary or a chaotic maze of confusion? As a mother of young children at one time, my home was a traffic jam of toys, dried-up peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, milk-stained bowls, single socks, and dust bunnies galore.

So now, allow me to “sweep” up that mess and conclude. To finish your life well, you’ll want to consider the truth and excitement of this last verse. Revelation 19:7, “Let us rejoice and be glad and give him glory! For the wedding of the Lamb has come, and his bride has made herself ready.” (NIV)

Redeem your time, beautiful bride of Christ! Ready yourself! Finish well with loving thoughtfulness, intentionality, purpose, and order. The next generation will be influenced to carry on the strength and stability you have shown them. Most importantly, finishing well means that you’re ready and prepared to meet your Bridegroom, Christ Jesus.

Kathleen Barrett is an Indie published author and blogger on the Treasure Coast of Florida. She has written two books, co-authored one, and has numerous articles in a variety of publications. She serves when needed on the communication team of her church’s Senior Legacy Group. Tending a modest garden and preparing Sunday afternoon feasts for her multi-cultural family brings her joy. Visit her website, https://kathybarrettwrites.com/ Or contact her by email at kathybarrett222@yahoo.com