Inheritance
The most lasting inheritance has nothing to do with money — it's the character, faith, and values we pass from one generation to the next.
Theme: Inheritance
Verse: "A good man leaves an inheritance to his children's children." — Proverbs 13:22
We do not like to think about death, but it is an inevitable part of our time on earth.
My good friend and training partner, Alex, told me about a Toastmasters speech in which a participant delivered his own eulogy as a 5–7 minute presentation. That got me thinking: What would I write in my own eulogy?
With 66 years behind me, I should have plenty of material from which to choose.
I think I would begin by saying that I tried to treat others the way I would want to be treated. For that, I owe a great deal of gratitude to my parents and the many others who helped raise me. If there is one rule worth following, that may be it. Whatever good I may have done started with lessons they taught me and examples they set.
Next, I would point to my daughters and the remarkable women they have become. Their mother deserves most of the credit — I was mainly along for the ride — but both girls have succeeded in life by every meaningful measure. More importantly, they have grown into independent adults with careers, homes, and lives of their own.
One of the greatest blessings for me is that they still call and stop by to see Mom and Dad — not because they need something, but simply because they want to say hello.
Both of these legacies have biblical roots. Nearly every major religion teaches some version of the Golden Rule. In Christianity, it appears in both Matthew and Luke. Proverbs also teaches us to raise our children in the way they should go, trusting that those lessons will remain with them throughout life.
When most people hear the word "inheritance," they think of money, property, or possessions. Those things certainly have their place. But the most valuable inheritance we can leave behind is our character, our faith, and the values we pass from one generation to the next. The lessons my parents gave me became part of my life, and I hope some of those same lessons have become part of my daughters' lives as well.
Recently, I saw a picture of my 93-year-old uncle holding his six-week-old great-grandnephew. My hope is that all of us have the opportunity to be part of a picture like that someday. But whether we live to see future generations or not, we can still leave them something of lasting value. Every act of kindness, every lesson taught, every example set becomes part of the inheritance we leave behind.
If my eulogy could say that I treated people with respect, loved my family well, and passed along values that helped future generations build meaningful lives, that would be inheritance enough for me.
Have a GREAT week!