If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,
‘Or walk with Kings – nor lose the common touch,
if neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you,
If all men count with you, but none too much;
If you can fill the unforgiving minute
With sixty seconds’ worth of distance run,
Yours is the Earth and everything that’s in it,
And – which is more – you’ll be a Man, my son!

-Rudyard Kipling

My mother celebrated her 60th birhtday this past weekend, a true blessing to all of us! As I thought about the tremendous impact that mom has had on all of her children, grandchildren, extended family and friends; I began to reflect on what a true living legacy is. Often times, people have a tendency to focus on the things that can be acquired in life. Many focus less attention on family, friends and the “simple things” in life. Many people put an emphasis on things that simply do not matter. I realized that my mother, on the other hand, has spent her life giving and continues to do so. God allows her to see her legacy daily through her faith, service to others, children and grandchildren. What is your legacy going to be? Legacy is not a statement of tribute to someone that has passed on, it is a statement of achievement for someone that continues to live on.

The thought that a living person can actually see their legacy in their lifetime forces individuals to take more time to make their lives more meaningful. One of life’s greatest quest is the quest for significance, trying to find where you “fit in.” This search can often yield you in an unsatisfied position with your current state. This search can also positively motivate you though to spend your life focusing on more fulfilling endeavors. My mother is an example of how valuable and fulfilled your life can be when you simply focus on giving to others. Your legacy usually is going to involve what you have given to the world! I often say that superficial existence is all about what you can get in life and spiritual existence is all about what you can give through your life.

In today’s society, many motivational speakers, life coaches, therapists, and counselors are hired by individuals everyday to help them figure out or deal with their legacy. A college education is simply a gateway to creating your legacy and significance in the world. A career is simply a gateway to creating your legacy in the world. Your religious affiliation is often a gateway to creating your legacy in the world. What do you want your legacy to be right now, not long after you are gone?

Unlike many writers, life coaches and therapists; I do not feel you can discuss legacy without including spiritual development. The only way to truly know your legacy is to reconnect with your Creator. In our society, people have become so scared to mention God. My mother’s legacy is so strong because of her faith in God. Legacy begins with God and ends with God. Despite what many scientists say, we are responsible for honoring God through the work that we do. Legacy is a nice way of saying, “Are you doing what you were designed to do?” Your faith must be the center of your life’s work!

Rudyard Kipling’s “If” is one of my favorite poems because it expresses the true value of what an individual’s life should be. To “fill the unforgiving minute” with “60 seconds worth of distance run” challenges you to look at ways to make every second in life meaningful. Time is unforgiving! You see, through all the adversity my mother has faced in life, she has never quit and she continues to stay focused on helping others. She fills every minute with value! What is your legacy going to be? What impact do you want your life to have right now?

I would like to add a caveat to Ruyard Kiplings poem. If I was afforded the opportunity, I would end it like this…

“If you can follow the example of 60 years worth of distance run, follow after God, live a life full of purpose until its done,

yours is the Earth, you’ll have a life full of worth..and which is more, your mother raised a man, my Son!.”